Amateur-built PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 28, 1999
On July 28, 1999 at about 2:43 pm local time, a amateur-built PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER, registered N350MB, 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 pilot failed to maintain directional control and ground looped the airplane. Factors included the crosswind and the turbulence from the DC-3.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1999 · about 2:43 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Regional
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER PIETENPOL
- Registration
- N350MB · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he extended the approach to land on runway 18 taxiway where he had been cleared to land. He reported, 'At the same time as my approach and flare to land, a DC-3 was upwind and to the front of me landing on runway 18. On my flare out I encountered wind turbulence from the DC-3 that caused my upwind wing to pitch up while my left wing touched the taxiway. This resulted in a ground loop off the left side of the taxiway.' On the day of the accident the pilot reported to investigators that there was a crosswind and a little tailwind, and that he landed slightly crooked into the wind. He reported that he landed with power but was about 10 mph to slow for the crosswind conditions. He reported that a DC-3 had touched down on runway 18 before he landed on taxiway 18.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 252 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 216 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 46 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 26, 1999; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HXF Hartford WI at 2:45 pm
- Destination: OSH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 8,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from OSH
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.