Custom Aerotech, INC. WHITE LIGHTNING accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 26, 1990
On July 26, 1990, a Custom Aerotech, INC. WHITE LIGHTNING, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N7147W, was destroyed in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Field). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED TO AVOID LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1990
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Custom Aerotech, INC. WHITE LIGHTNING WHITE LIGH, amateur-built
- Registration
- N7147W · no longer on the register · serial 122
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HIGH PERFORMANCE AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO BE ON DOWNWIND TO RUNWAY 27. WITNESSES SAW THE AIRCRAFT ENTER A MANEUVER TO EXTEND/MAINTAIN SEPARATION FROM AIRCRAFT IT WAS FOLLOWING. DURING THIS MANEUVER THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO DEPART CONTROLLED FLIGHT, ENTER A SPIN, AND IMPACT A LAKE. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND HAD APPROXIMATELY 50 HOURS TOTAL TIME IN THIS AIRCRAFT. HE HAD TOLD WITNESSES PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT THAT HE DID NOT WANT TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO HAVE TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT IN A SLOW FLIGHT REGIME.
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: 2,100 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1C1 Paxton IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,166 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.