Beech A36TC accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 26, 1990
On July 26, 1990 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Beech A36TC, registered N3738U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Oshkosh Wittman 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THE DETERIORATING AIRSPEED AND IMMINENT STALL DURING THE LANDING FLARE, WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1990 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Oshkosh Wittman Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36TC · all A36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N3738U · no longer on the register · serial EA161
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FOLLOWING TRAFFIC FOR THE LENDING RUNWAY WHEN HE WAS ADVISED OF A DISPLACED THRESHOLD. HE REPORTED THAT 'WHILE EXTENDING THE LANDING, I STALLED JUST ABOVE THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.'
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: 1,807 hours in all; 375 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 1,807 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,340 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 1990; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MDW Chicago IL at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18R, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 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.