Cessna 120 accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, August 5, 1987
On August 5, 1987 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Cessna 120, registered N76249, was involved in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. 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, 1987 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N76249 · no longer on the register · serial 10654
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS TAXIING OUT OF THE ANTIQUE/CLASSIC CAMPING AREA AT OSHKOSH WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF WING WALKERS WHEN HE STOPPED TO PERMIT THE PAX (HIS WIFE) TO PERFORM AN ERRAND. THE PAX DEPLANED & WENT UNDER THE OUTER 1/3 OF THE WING STRUT, THEN WALKED BACK INTO THE PATH OF THE IDLING PROP. HER LEFT FOREARM WAS NEARLY SEVERED.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,100 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,625 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 24, 1986; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 3AR Lafayette IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from OSH
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.