Beech 23 accident near Neenah, Wisconsin, October 8, 1996
On October 8, 1996 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Beech 23, registered N2398Z, was destroyed in an accident near Neenah, Wisconsin (Brennand airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the local terrain conditions around the airport. A factor was the inadequate runway safety area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1996 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Neenah, Wisconsin · Brennand · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N2398Z · no longer on the register · serial M-121
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During final approach the pilot slowed the airplane to avoid a red dump truck coming down the road. Following the first dump truck was a second grey and red dump truck. The left main gear tire of the airplane contacted the second dump truck. West of the airport there was a tree line and a cornfield near the road, where a lightly colored vehicle would be very difficult to see during final approach to the runway. The runway obstacle free zone was shorter than the recommended length.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 4,880 as pilot in command; 327 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,050 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 1996; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSH Oshkosh WI at 2:55 pm
- Destination: 79C
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,090 ft by 15 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from ATW, 7 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.