Beech M35 accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 29, 2003
On July 29, 2003 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Beech M35, registered N9785R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision and his failure to execute a go-around. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to attain alignment with the runway centerline, the runway light and the airport sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2003 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech M35 · all M35s on the register
- Registration
- N9785R · registry record · serial D-6294
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft was substantially damaged during landing rollout while attempting to return to the runway surface after initially touching down in the grass area adjacent to the runway. The accident occurred during the Experimental Aircraft Association Air Venture Convention. Special flight procedures were in effect at the time. The procedure provides two alternate landing points on the runway, in addition to the runway threshold. The first point was approximately one-quarter of the way down the runway, and the second was about one-half of the way down the runway. The pilot stated while on base leg an aircraft crossed his assigned landing point which was approximately halfway down the runway. To provide additional spacing, he reportedly "extended" the base leg. However, the aircraft "got too low for the tight turn" to final and he landed on the grass adjacent to the runway. The pilot stated he landed normally in the grass and then attempted to steer back onto the runway surface. During the process the aircraft hit a runway light, skidded across the pavement and impacted an airport sign. The aircraft came to rest in the grass on the opposite side of the runway. The pilot noted that he was unsure of the go-around procedure due to the density of traffic in the pattern at the time. No malfunctions with the aircraft or engine were reported by the pilot.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: May 9, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,262 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 10, 2002; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCW Mason City IA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,178 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from OSH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.