Waco Classic Aircraft YMF-5C accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 23, 2022
On July 23, 2022 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 2014 Waco Classic Aircraft YMF-5C, registered N140W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2022 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco Classic Aircraft YMF-5C, built 2014
- Registration
- N140W · registry record · serial F5C-8-140
- 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 he landed on the green dot and steered toward the north edge of the runway to clear quickly as instructed by air traffic control. The airplane started to “get loose” and the pilot attempted to recover with no response. The airplane “rapidly turned to the left” and ground looped. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the left wing. 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 pilot was landing on runway 27 with wind from 070° at 8 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 (landing roll) defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- 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 › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,790 hours in all; 611 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 11, 2022
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 569 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755A2M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KBUU Burlington WI at 5:03 pm
- Destination: KOSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,179 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KOSH
Weather report (METAR): METAR KOSH 231753Z 07008KT 10SM CLR 31/22 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP101 T03060217 10311 20217 58008=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 15, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Report Pictures | PDF, 3 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.