Amateur-built CRICKET MC12 accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, August 5, 1983
On August 5, 1983 at about 8:45 pm local time, a amateur-built CRICKET MC12, registered CGAYW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Field). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1983 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CRICKET MC12 CRICKET MC
- Registration
- CGAYW · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A FORMATION TAKEOFF, THE PLT WAS FLYING IN A LEFT WINGMAN POSITION & THE FLT ENTERED A RELATIVELY STEEP CLIMB. THE PLT STATED THAT THE AIRSPEED WAS SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE STALL SPEED AT ABOUT 100 TO 150 FT AGL WHEN THE LEFT ENG LOST POWER & THE ACFT BEGAN TURNING LEFT & LOSING ALT. HE REPORTED THAT THE PLANE STALLED & HE COULD NOT CONTROL THE LEFT YAW & TURN, UNTIL AFTER HE LOWERED THE NOSE & REGAINED AIRSPEED. HE DID NOT REDUCE POWER ON THE OPERATING ENG. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A SLIGHT NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. AN INVESTIGATON REVEALED THAT THE SINGLE SPARK PLUG IN THE LEFT, SINGLE CYLINDER, 2 STROKE ENG WAS NOT FIRING AT THE ELECTRODE TIP.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1985; 10 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jpx POL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 6,700 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.