Amateur-built Q-2 accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 28, 1988
On July 28, 1988 at about 7:15 pm local time, a amateur-built Q-2, registered N48BH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Whitman Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- July 28, 1988 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Whitman Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Q-2
- Registration
- N48BH · no longer on the register · serial 2335
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON A FLT TO OSHKOSH TO AN EAA CONVENTION. WHEN HE ARRIVED, TRAFFIC WAS HVY & SPECIAL TRAFFIC PROCEDURES WERE IN EFFECT. INFO TO ATTENDEES (BEFORE THE CONVENTION) ADVERTISED THAT THE NORTH/SOUTH RWYS WOULD BE USED PRIMARILY FOR DISPLAY ACFT & THE EAST/WEST RWYS WOULD BE IN USE PRIMARILY FOR ITINERANT ACFT; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RESTRICTION ON RWY USE. DUE TO HVY TRAFFIC, TWR PSNL DID NOT ROUTINELY OFFER WIND INFO & ALTERNATE RWY USE; HOWEVER, IF REQUESTED, THESE WOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED. DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT EXPECTED TO USE THE NORTH/SOUTH RWY & OBTAINED WIND INFORMATION FROM THE ATIS. HE REALIZED THERE WOULD BE A 12 KT X-WIND, BUT DID NOT BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM. HE RPRTD THAT DRG ARRIVAL, HE TURNED ONTO A SHORT FINAL APCH FOR RWY 18 & COMPENSATED FOR A STRONG X-WIND BY LOWERING THE RIGHT WING. HE STATED THAT ABOUT 10' ABV THE RWY, THE ACFT ENTERED A RAPID DSCNT & LANDED HARD, BREAKING THE STRUCTURE FOR THE RGT GEAR (WHICH WAS ALSO THE RGT CANARD) & DAMAGED THE PROP.
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
- Flight time: 833 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 280 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1988; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster 2100 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UNU Juneau WI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:46 pm from OSH, 25 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.