Amateur-built ACRO II and Cessna 172F accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 31, 1995
On July 31, 1995 at about 2:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built ACRO II (N40LF) and Cessna 172F (N5542R), were involved in the same accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Regional airport). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot of the Acro II, N40LF, to maintain clearance from the Cessna 172, N5542R.
the failure of the pilot of the Acro II, N40LF, to maintain clearance from the Cessna 172, N5542R.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1995 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Regional · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built ACRO II
- Registration
- N40LF · registry record · serial 3
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N5542R · no longer on the register · serial 17253126
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built ACRO II final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Acro, N40LF, reported that at the request of the control tower he landed mid-point on the runway, and behind the Cessna 172, N5542R. During the ground roll, the Acro impacted the right wing of the Cessna. The pilot of the Acro stated 'forward visibility is very restrictive in this model with the tail down.' The pilot of the Cessna reported that he was taxiing on the runway after landing. He was about to make a left turn off the runway when the Acro impacted his airplane's right wing.
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 172F final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Acro, N40LF, reported that at the request of the control tower he landed mid-point on the runway, and behind the Cessna 172, N5542R. During the ground roll, the Acro impacted the right wing of the Cessna. The pilot of the Acro stated 'forward visibility is very restrictive in this model with the tail down.' The pilot of the Cessna reported that he was taxiing on the runway after landing. He was about to make a left turn off the runway when the Acro impacted his airplane's right wing.
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 amateur-built ACRO II from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,100 hours in all; 335 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 2,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 335 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UNU Dodge County WI at 2:00 pm
- Destination: OSH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,180 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:59 pm from OSH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172F from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 190 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,844 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 7, 1995; 103 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C86 Dakota IL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: OSH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,180 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.