Wittman Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54902
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 13:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The aircraft took off with a strong left crosswind with the flight near maximum gross weight. About 60 feet in the air, the aircraft stalled, the left wing struck the ground on the right side of the runway, and the aircraft cartwheeled and slid to a stop. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the occupants received minor injuries. The pilot reported that gusts of wind caught the airplane. Inspection of the aircraft did not reveal any preimpact failure or malfunction of the aircraft or engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while taking off in gusting winds, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/30/2008
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1330
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 KOSH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 808
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID KOSH
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 18
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.72
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25782
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 24 2009 5:01PM
User who most recently changed record dinc
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3671A
NTSB Number CHI08FA222
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22
Aircraft Series Identifier 135
Aircraft Serial Number 22-1930
Certified Max Gross Weight 1950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 11 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4379
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name William L. Lawson Jr.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 47367 72nd Avenue
Aircraft Owner City Decatur
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49045
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name William L. Lawson Jr.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 47367 72nd Avenue
Operator City Decatur
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 49045
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code KOSH
Departure City OSHKOSH
Departure State WI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code C91
Destination City DOWAGIAC
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 24 2009 4:17PM
User who most recently changed record dinc
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 8002
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --