Piper PA-22 accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 30, 2008
On July 30, 2008 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N3671A, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while taking off in gusting winds, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2008 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 135 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N3671A · registry record · serial 22-1930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft took off with a strong left crosswind with the flight near maximum gross weight. About 60 feet in the air, the aircraft stalled, the left wing struck the ground on the right side of the runway, and the aircraft cartwheeled and slid to a stop. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the occupants received minor injuries. The pilot reported that gusts of wind caught the airplane. Inspection of the aircraft did not reveal any preimpact failure or malfunction of the aircraft or engine.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 20, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,379 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KOSH Oshkosh WI
- Destination: C91 Dowagiac MI
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 36, 8,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 18 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.