Aeronca 7AC accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 28, 1993
On July 28, 1993 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N81598, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Airport). 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-IN-COMMAND'S NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS INCLUDE A CROSSWIND, THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S NOT ATTAINING COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1993 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N81598 · registry record · serial 7AC-217
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED FOURTEEN HOURS IN THIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE, WITH SEVEN HOURS AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND AND FOUR HOURS ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE ON RUNWAY 18. PREVAILING WINDS WERE REPORTED AS 270 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED AND EXITED THE RUNWAY.
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: 83 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 27 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y50 Wautoma WI at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:49 pm from OSH, 1 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.