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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2022 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Rgnl · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N3946K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN22LA332.