Amateur-built SEA RAY accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 31, 1993
On July 31, 1993 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SEA RAY, registered N703SR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Brennand'S Seaplane Base airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT MAINTAINING PROPER CLIMB RATE. A FACTOR WAS THE ABRUPT CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY THE PASSENGER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1993 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Brennand'S Seaplane Base · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SEA RAY
- Registration
- N703SR · registry record · serial DK004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE AMPHIBIAN AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE SAID THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT GOING TO CLEAR TREES ON TAKEOFF, SO HE INITIATED A LOW LEVEL RIGHT TURN. WHILE IN THE DESCENDING TURN THE PASSENGER ABRUPTLY MOVED THE CONTROL TO THE RIGHT AND THE RIGHT FLOAT DUG INTO THE WATER AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE WATER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 31 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth 2705 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sierra Hotel, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from OSH, 5 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.
Other NTSB records under N703SR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.