Amateur-built RV-7 and amateur-built RV-8 accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 23, 2021
On July 23, 2021 at about 6:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built RV-7 (N977RV) and amateur-built RV-8 (N747JG), were involved in the same accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Regional Airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The RV-8 pilot’s failure to account for the position of the RV-7 behind him during the landing roll in a staggered landing formation, which resulted in a ground collision of the two airplanes. Contributing to the accident was the self-induced pressure created by the airshow environment to land, stop, and get off the runway into the grass as quickly as possible.
The RV-8 pilot’s failure to account for the position of the RV-7 behind him during the landing roll in a staggered landing formation, which resulted in a ground collision of the two airplanes. Contributing to the accident was the self-induced pressure created by the airshow environment to land, stop, and get off the runway into the grass as quickly as possible.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2021 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built RV-7, built 2005
- Registration
- N977RV · no longer on the register · serial 71409
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built RV-8, built 2008
- Registration
- N747JG · registry record · serial 81612
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built RV-7 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots reported that they were landing at an airshow fly-in in a staggered four-airplane formation. The RV-8 was in the No. 2 position and the RV-7 was right behind it in the No. 3 position. The RV-7 bounced during the landing and the pilot lost sight of the RV-8 in front of him. The air traffic controller instructed the flight to turn left onto the grass and the RV-8 pilot later reported that he started the turn “without regarding the airplane behind” him. According to the RV-7 pilot, when the RV-8 came back into view, it was turning left directly in front of his airplane. The RV-7 pilot immediately applied the brakes and swerved hard to the right, but his left wing impacted the RV-8’s rudder, followed by the right wing and aileron. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage. Both pilots reported that the airshow environment created pressure to land, stop, and get off the runway into the grass as quickly as possible.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built RV-8 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots reported that they were landing at an airshow fly-in in a staggered four-airplane formation. The RV-8 was in the No. 2 position and the RV-7 was right behind it in the No. 3 position. The RV-7 bounced during the landing and the pilot lost sight of the RV-8 in front of him. The air traffic controller instructed the flight to turn left onto the grass and the RV-8 pilot later reported that he started the turn “without regarding the airplane behind” him. According to the RV-7 pilot, when the RV-8 came back into view, it was turning left directly in front of his airplane. The RV-7 pilot immediately applied the brakes and swerved hard to the right, but his left wing impacted the RV-8’s rudder, followed by the right wing and aileron. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage. Both pilots reported that the airshow environment created pressure to land, stop, and get off the runway into the grass as quickly as possible.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the amateur-built RV-7 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Air traffic/operating proc › Traffic congestion › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot of other aircraft
- Environmental issues › Task environment › Pressures/demands › (general) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,200 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 6,500 as pilot in command; 217 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 28, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,472 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Superior Air Parts XP-IO-360-B1A (piston); 1,472 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FOD Fort Dodge IA at 5:03 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,179 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KOSH
Weather report (METAR): KOSH 231753Z 19006KT 9SM FEW040 29/22 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP157 T02940217 10300 20222 58011
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built RV-8 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abrupt maneuver during taxi (from runway) defining event
- Ground collision during taxi (from runway)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Air traffic/operating proc › Traffic congestion › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Task environment › Pressures/demands › (general) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,620 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 13,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Barrett Precision Engines IO-360-X (piston); 1,200 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FOD Fort Dodge IA at 5:03 pm
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 24, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N977RV - Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | N747JG - Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Pilot of the RV-8, N747JG | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Postaccident Photos - Courtesy of the Federal Aviation Administration | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Excerpts from Formation Flying Inc. Formation Guidelines and Standard Procedures | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N977RV the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
2023-06-02CEN23FA220 · accident near Gibbon, NE · destroyed · fatal
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.