Amateur-built RV-3 accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 24, 2008
On July 24, 2008 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-3, registered N3149U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The compensation for wind conditions disregarded by the pilot and the inadequate in-flight planning/decision making by the plot during approach to the destination airport. A contributing factor was the quartering tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2008 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-3
- Registration
- N3149U · no longer on the register · serial 547
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A pilot, who was flying the number three airplane, and two other airplanes were en route to the destination airport and on approach to runway 36 (8,002 feet by 150 feet, concrete/grooved). The lead airplane requested runway 36 while on a two-mile final. When the lead airplane lost radio communications, the number two airplane then took the lead position. They were told twice by air traffic control to "hasten" their pattern since someone "faster" was behind them. Twice, the controller told someone to quit talking. The lead and number two airplanes landed in before the number three airplane. The pilot of the number three airplane stated that she lost control of the airplane just before touchdown. The left wing was damaged when it struck the grass adjacent to the runway. The airplane then cart wheeled and came to rest upright. The pilot received minor injuries. The pilot stated that winds were from 240 degrees at 8 knots at the time of the accident and that she should not have agreed to use a runway with a quartering tailwind or be "pushed" to hurry between two aircraft.
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 defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DEC Decatur IL
- Destination: OSH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.