Piper PA-28-140 and Cessna 182 mid-air collision near Osceola, Wisconsin, February 3, 1991
On February 3, 1991 at about 6:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-140 (N4676R) and Cessna 182 (N6384A), were involved in a mid-air collision near Osceola, Wisconsin (L.O.Simenstad Muni airport). 7 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOTS IN BOTH AIRCRAFT TO SEEING-AND-AVOID THE OTHER AIRPLANE.
FAILURE OF THE PILOTS IN BOTH AIRCRAFT TO SEEING-AND-AVOID THE OTHER AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 1991 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Osceola, Wisconsin · L.O.Simenstad Muni · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 7 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N4676R · no longer on the register · serial 28-21433
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N6384A · no longer on the register · serial 33184
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-140 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLTS OF 2 CESSNA 182 ACFT TOOK OFF FROM RWY 10 IN FORMATION. ONE OF THESE, N6384A, HAD 4 SKYDIVERS ABOARD. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT OF N6384A DISCONTINUED FORMATION FLT & DEPD TO THE SE, WHILE THE OTR CESSNA DEPD NE. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, A PIPER PA-28, N4676R, WAS APCHG THE ARPT WITH A DUAL STUDENT & INSTRUCTOR (CFI) ABOARD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED ABOUT 1-1/2 MI SE OF THE ARPT. NO KNOWN WITNESS SAW THE COLLISION; THE ALTITUDE & HEADINGS OF THE ACFT WERE NOT VERIFIED. DURING IMPACT, THE 2 ACFT BECAME ENTANGLED & THEY IMPACTED THE GROUND AT THE SAME LOCATION. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE HIGH WING CESSNA & THE LOW WING PA-28 CONVERGED LATERALLY, WHILE ON FLT PATHS THAT ANGLED TOWARD EACH OTHER.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 182 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLTS OF 2 CESSNA 182 ACFT TOOK OFF FROM RWY 10 IN FORMATION. ONE OF THESE, N6384A, HAD 4 SKYDIVERS ABOARD. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT OF N6384A DISCONTINUED FORMATION FLT & DEPD TO THE SE, WHILE THE OTR CESSNA DEPD NE. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, A PIPER PA-28, N4676R, WAS APCHG THE ARPT WITH A DUAL STUDENT & INSTRUCTOR (CFI) ABOARD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED ABOUT 1-1/2 MI SE OF THE ARPT. NO KNOWN WITNESS SAW THE COLLISION; THE ALTITUDE & HEADINGS OF THE ACFT WERE NOT VERIFIED. DURING IMPACT, THE 2 ACFT BECAME ENTANGLED & THEY IMPACTED THE GROUND AT THE SAME LOCATION. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE HIGH WING CESSNA & THE LOW WING PA-28 CONVERGED LATERALLY, WHILE ON FLT PATHS THAT ANGLED TOWARD EACH OTHER.
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 for the Piper PA-28-140 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 539 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AOE Anoka MN
- Destination: OEO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:50 pm from MSP, 34 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 182 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OEO at 6:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.