Amateur-built II and amateur-built B mid-air collision near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, August 3, 1982
On August 3, 1982 at about 6:10 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built II (N9JR) and amateur-built B (NX5148), were involved in a mid-air collision near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Field). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1982 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Field · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built II
- Registration
- N9JR · registry record · serial 1424
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built B
- Registration
- NX5148 · no longer on the register · serial 12
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built II final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING IN THE FLY-BY (NO RADIO) PATTERN DURING THE ANNUAL EAA CONVENTION. ACCORDING TO PARTICIPANT RECORDS, BOTH PLTS HAD RECEIVED FLY-BY PATTERN BRIEFINGS. BOTH ACFT WERE OBSERVED TO BE IN THE SOUTHERN MOST PORTION OF THE UPWIND LEG OF THE "SOUTH OPERATIONS" FLY-BY PATTERN HEADING APPROXIMATELY 180 DEG. BOTH ACFT WERE WITHIN ALTITUDE& AIRSPEED RESTRICTIONS. NX1548, A HIGH WING ACFT, WAS AT A HIGHER ALTITUDE THAN N9JR, A BI-WING ACFT. N9JR WAS SEEN IN A CLIMBING LEFT HAND TURN. AFTER IMPACT BOTH ACFT ENTERED A LEFT HAND SPIN TOGETHER.
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 amateur-built B final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING IN THE FLY-BY (NO RADIO) PATTERN DURING THE ANNUAL EAA CONVENTION. ACCORDING TO PARTICIPANT RECORDS BOTH PLTS HAD RECEIVED FLY-BY PATTERN BRIEFINGS. BOTH ACFT WERE OBSERVED TO BE IN THE SOUTHERN MOST PORTION OF THE UPWIND LEG OF THE "SOUTH OPERATIONS" FLY-BY PATTERN HEADING APPROXIMATELY 180 DEG. BOTH ACFT WERE WITHIN ALTITUDE& AIRSPEED RESTRICTIONS. NX1548, A HIGH WING ACFT, WAS AT A HIGH ALTITUDE THAN N9JR, A BI-WING ACFT. N9JR WAS SEEN IN A CLIMBING LEFT HAND TURN. AFTER IMPACT BOTH ACFT ENTERED A LEFT HAND SPIN TOGETHER.
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 II from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 286 hours in all; 152 in this make and model; 229 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,020 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,701 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 196°F (91°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,649 hours in all; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,584 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,701 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 CHI82FA290.