Amateur-built Lancair 360 and Vans Aircraft, Inc. RV-6T accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, August 1, 2003
On August 1, 2003 at about 6:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built Lancair 360 (N3602D) and Vans Aircraft, Inc. RV-6T (N66VA), were involved in the same accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Regional airport). No one was hurt; 3 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 visual look out and his failure to perform a go-around, and maintain clearance from the other airplane.
The other airplane pilot's inadequate visual look out and his failure to perform a go-around, and maintain clearance from the other aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2003 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Regional · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built Lancair 360
- Registration
- N3602D · no longer on the register · serial 822
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Vans Aircraft, Inc. RV-6T
- Registration
- N66VA · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built Lancair 360 final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two airplanes were substantially damaged during a collision while both aircraft were landing at the annual Experimental Aircraft Association Airventure fly-in at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Reduced separation standards and special arrival procedures were in effect at the time of the accident. The accident aircraft were sequenced for landing and both were cleared to land at the same location on the same runway. The trailing airplane landed and struck the leading airplane as the leading airplane was exiting the runway. Federal regulations as well as the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) state that the pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft. The AIM further states that, regardless of type of flight plan or whether or not under control of a radar facility, the pilot is responsible to see and avoid other traffic, terrain, or obstacles, when meteorological conditions permit.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Vans Aircraft, Inc. RV-6T final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two airplanes were substantially damaged during a collision while both aircraft were landing at the annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Reduced separation standards and special arrival procedures were in effect at the time of the accident. The accident aircraft were sequenced for landing and both were cleared to land at the same location on the same runway. The trailing airplane landed and struck the leading airplane as the leading airplane was exiting the runway. Federal regulations as well as the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) state that the pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft. The AIM further states that, regardless of type of flight plan or whether or not under control of a radar facility, the pilot is responsible to see and avoid other traffic, terrain, or obstacles, when meteorological conditions permit.
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 for the amateur-built Lancair 360 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,205 hours in all; 346 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 1,152 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 22, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 633 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 9, 2003; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ATW Appleton WI at 5:00 pm
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,178 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from OSH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Vans Aircraft, Inc. RV-6T from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,500 hours in all; 6,500 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: December 28, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 21, 2003; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSH Oshkosh WI at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,178 ft by 150 ft
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.
Other NTSB records under N3602D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.