Cessna L-19E accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 24, 2022
On July 24, 2022 at about 7:20 pm local time, a 1962 Cessna L-19E, registered N3946K, 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). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a gusty crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2022 · about 7:20 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Rgnl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna L-19E, built 1962 · all L-19Es on the register
- Registration
- N3946K · registry record · serial 24716
- 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 the first approach to runway 36R, the preceding airplane struggled with the wind, so the pilot aborted the approach and reentered the pattern for another attempt. During the second attempt, he utilized a technique that required flaps extended 10°, left wing down, and right rudder. The left main landing gear touched down first followed by the tailwheel as the pilot used full left aileron to counter the left crosswind. During the landing roll the airplane slid to the right and departed the runway. The airplane impacted a ditch and the main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident the wind was from 300° at 17 knots with gusts to 27 knots.
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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 7,800 hours in all; 365 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 7,700 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,117 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-15 (piston); 14,349 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KDKB Dekalb IL at 5:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36R, 6,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 17 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 0.5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 2:25 pm from KOSH
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KOSH 241925Z 30017G27KT 1 1/2SM R36/1200VP6000FT HZ CLR 27/15 A2983 RMK AO2 PK WND 29027/1919 VIS 1/4V5 T02670150
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – The airplane and right wing
Photo 2 – The right side of the airplane and fuselage
Photo 3 – Left main landing gear and fuselageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 2, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Report Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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 N3946K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3946K on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna L-19 41 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental O-470-15 2 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Wittman Regional · nearest airport
- DE Kalb Taylor Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Wisconsin 1,622 since 1982 · 226 in the last ten years
- Wisconsin 6,164 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N3946K 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN22LA332.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.