Aeronca O-58B accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, May 23, 1992
On May 23, 1992 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Aeronca O-58B, registered N47373, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADEQUATE INSPECTION BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE REVERSAL OF THE AILERON CABLES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1992 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 1992
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Field · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca O-58B
- Registration
- N47373 · registry record · serial 10233
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS ON THE FIRST TAKEOFF AFTER AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND REBUILD. THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, EXITED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT, AND NOSED OVER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT FOUND THE AILERON CABLES TO BE REVERSED.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSH at 7:30 pm
- Destination: OSH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from OSH, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N47373 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Aeronca 3,953 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental A65-8 137 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Wittman Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Wisconsin 1,622 since 1982 · 225 in the last ten years
- Wisconsin 6,161 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI92LA158.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.