Amateur-built SPARROW II accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 30, 2021
On July 30, 2021 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 2005 amateur-built SPARROW II, registered N725DW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a bounced landing, a loss of control, and runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2021 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SPARROW II, built 2005
- Registration
- N725DW · no longer on the register · serial CA3-323
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during landing on a grass runway, the airplane first bounced about 5 ft high, then bounced a few more times as it neared the end of the runway. The pilot added that he did not have enough remaining runway to complete a go-around, so he applied the brakes, but they did not work. The airplane continued off the end of the runway and impacted a small ditch and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mount. A postaccident examination of the brake system revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,800 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 14 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 13, 2021
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05L/, 1,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from KOSH, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOSH 301453Z 03010KT 10SM CLR 19/11 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP222 T01890106 51008
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 13, 2021. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Correspondence | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | 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.
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.