Amateur-built KOLB MARK III accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, November 28, 1993
On November 28, 1993 at about 6:46 pm local time, a amateur-built KOLB MARK III, registered N393PK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Regional airport). 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 LACK OF CARBURETOR HEAT FOR THE ENGINE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE WEATHER CONDITION, WHICH WAS FAVORABLE FOR FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 28, 1993 · about 6:46 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KOLB MARK III KOLB MARK
- Registration
- N393PK · no longer on the register · serial M3-122
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A LOSS OF POWER, WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS IN THE PATTERN FOR LANDING. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RUNWAY OF INTENDED LANDING AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A SUSPENDED WIRE AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. THE AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A PROVISION FOR ELIMINATING CARBURETOR ICING. THE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 28 DEGREES, AND THE DEWPOINT WAS 18 DEGREES. THESE CONDITIONS WERE CONDUSIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
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: 120 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 72 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 22, 1993; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSH at 5:30 pm
- Destination: OSH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:48 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.
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.