Wittman Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54902
Sunday, July 27, 2008 14:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during landing he touched down about 420 feet down the 1,200-foot grass runway and the airplane bounced. He decided to put it "right back down." As soon as the airplane touched down again, the pilot applied brakes with the airplane on all three wheels. He said that the airplane's nosewheel entered a "dip" in the runway that "appeared to be somewhat soft" and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane's nose then struck the ground and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by executing a go-around when the airplane bounced.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/27/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Oshkosh
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54902
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Wittman Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OSH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 808
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID OSH
Elevation of weather observation facility 808
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.85
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KOSH 271553Z 26005KT 9SM CLR 26/16 A2988 RMK
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25137
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 27 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2009 5:12PM
User who most recently changed record brajo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N402PB
NTSB Number CHI08LA214
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BOLENBAUGH PHILLIP WILLIAM
Aircraft Model RANS S-6ES
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 06061751-ES
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Jun 20 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 28
Airframe Hours 239
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BOLENBAUGH PHILLIP WILLIAM
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City SUGAR GROVE
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60554-0392
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name BOLENBAUGH PHILLIP WILLIAM
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Sugar Grove
Operator State ID
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 60554
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code UNU
Departure City JUNEAU
Departure State WI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1340
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code OSH
Destination City Oshkosh
Destination State WI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2009 11:14AM
User who most recently changed record brajo
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 1200
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --