Cessna 150 accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, March 20, 1983
On March 20, 1983 at about 8:34 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N704WN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Oshkosh airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- March 20, 1983 · about 8:34 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Oshkosh
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N704WN · registry record · serial 255053-A-48
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON A SUPERVISED, SOLO, X-COUNTRY FLT FROM MOSINEE, WI, TO OSHKOSH, WI, GREEN BAY, WI, THEN RETURN TO MOSINEE. THE FIRST LEG OF THE FLIGHT WAS FLOWN WITH NO PROBLEM. BEFORE TAKEOFF AT OSHKOSK, THE STUDENT WAS TAXIING SOUTHBOUND WITH A LEFT QUARTING TAIL WIND WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED AN ICY AREA ON THE TAXIWAY. REPORTEDLY, THE CONTROLS WERE POSITIONED PROPERLY FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. AS THE ACFT CROSSED THE ICY AREA, IT BEGAN TO SLIDE TO THE RIGHT. THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL HIT PAVEMENT WHICH STOPPED THE SLIDE. HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME, THE ACFT BANKED RIGHT & THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTHEAST AT 15, GUSTING 20 KTS. THE 1455 CST WIND AT OSHKOSH WAS REPORTED FROM 040 DEG AT 18 KTS.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 36 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,209 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CWA Mosinee WI at 7:28 pm
- Destination: GRB Greenbay WI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 6,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,900 ft; clear
- Temperature: 10°F (-12°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from OSH
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.