Amateur-built RV-6A accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 14, 2005
On July 14, 2005 at about 12:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6A, registered N125WH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Gallinger 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 takeoff. Contributing factors were the uneven (rough) runway surface and the fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2005 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Gallinger · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N125WH · registry record · serial 23556
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur-built airplane was substantially damaged during takeoff when it departed the turf runway and impacted a fence. The pilot reported that he initiated a short field takeoff. Approximately 100 feet into the takeoff roll the airplane encountered "bumps" in the runway surface. He stated that after traveling another 100 feet, the airplane was "propelled 5-6 feet into the air" but that it did not have sufficient airspeed to maintain flight at that time. He stated that as the airplane settled back onto the runway, it began to "porpoise over the next several ridges" for a distance of approximately 100 feet. The pilot reported: "At that time the aircraft suddenly veered left and I pulled the throttle to idle. It went into the high grass along the runway and struck the fence with the left wing." The airplane subsequently ground looped and came to rest.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 797 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 723 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 557.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 1, 2005; 20.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 51WI Oshkosh WI at 12:00 pm
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from OSH, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 CHI05CA184.