Piper PA-24-250 accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, August 2, 1986
On August 2, 1986 at about 7:43 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5713P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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 2, 1986 · about 7:43 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5713P · no longer on the register · serial 24-787
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL AFTER 3+41 HOURS OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS SURE THE TANKS WERE FULL ON TAKEOFF. FLIGHT PLANNING AND A DOCUMENTED CONSERVATIVE FUEL BURN RATE INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REMAIN AIRBORNE FOR AT LEAST 4+37 HOURS (13 GALLONS PER HOUR DIVIDED BY THE ACFT FUEL CAPACITY OF 60 GALLONS). AN EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL BLADDER CELLS REVEALED SEVERAL LOOSE RETAINING CLIPS AND GENERAL COLLAPSING AND DISTORTION OF BOTH CELLS. ACCORDING TO THE LOGBOOK THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM WAS COMPLIED WITH 41 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 553 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 415 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,523 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1986; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AGC Pittsburg PA at 4:02 pm
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 6,166 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from OSH, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.