Canadian Car & Foundry HARVARD MK IV accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 25, 2024
On July 25, 2024 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Canadian Car & Foundry HARVARD MK IV, registered N52494, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2024 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Canadian Car & Foundry HARVARD MK IV · all HARVARD MK IVs on the register
- Registration
- N52494 · registry record · serial CCF4-387
- 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 tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he landed behind another airplane. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered “wake turbulence” and veered to the right. He applied power in an attempt to regain rudder authority and execute a go-around; however, the airplane exited the right side of the runway, ground looped, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Wake turbulence › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 26,000 hours in all; 521 in this make and model; 55.6 in the last 90 days; 24.2 in the last 30 days; 14,000 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 18, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,887.6 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 10, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Prat & Witney R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,179 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from KOSH
Weather report (METAR): KOSH 251353Z 00000KT 10SM SCT008 OVC016 20/17 A3028 RMK AO2 SLP245 T02000167
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 27, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N52494 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.