NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On July 30, 2008, about 1330 central daylight time, a Piper PA-22, N3671A, piloted by a Commercial rated pilot, sustained substantial damage when it crashed during takeoff from runway 36L at Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. The flight was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident with winds gusting from a westerly direction. The airplane was departing from the annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in at Oshkosh, Wisconsin at the time of the accident.

WITNESSES

Witnesses observed what they described as a stall about 50 feet above the ground and the aircraft rolled and impacted the ground.

One witness reported: "I was watching the aircraft take off from RWY 36 and at the point of takeoff the airplane crabbed into the wind and raised the nose unusually high and held that attitude until the plane stalled and nosed in.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot held a Commercial Certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. The certificate included endorsements for single engine and multiengine land. The pilot held a third class medical certificate issued on May 3, 2007, with limitations for corrective lenses. The pilot had approximately 5,000 hours total flight time, with 800 hours in make and model, and 30 hours in make and model in the last 30 days, and 2.5 hours in make and model in the last 24 hours. The pilot had a current Biennial Flight Review.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

N3671A was a high wing, propeller-driven, fixed landing gear, semi-monocoque design, four-seat airplane, Piper PA-22 Model, Serial number 22-1930. A 135 horsepower, four-cylinder, air cooled, horizontally opposed, carbureted, Lycoming O-290 engine was installed on the aircraft. The airplane was being operated in the Normal Category.

The airplane and the engine had approximately 4400 hours total time. The last inspection of the airplane and engine was an annual inspection performed on July 11, 2008.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The pilot reported the weather as clear, visibility of 10 plus miles, winds from 280 at 18 knots, gusting to 18 knots, temperature of 84 degrees, and a density altitude of 918 feet.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The airplane came to rest in the dirt on the right side of runway 36L about mid field.

Inspection of the flight control system did not disclose any evidence of any preimpact failure or malfunction.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

Wittman Regional Airport (OSH) was operating under special flight procedures that were effective from July 25 to August 3, 2008 during 2008 AirVenture, Oshkosh.

TEST AND RESEARCH

The pilot reported the maximum allowable gross weight of the aircraft as 1950 pounds, and the weight at time to the accident as 1900 pounds.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The pilot reported that he was cleared to take off rolling at 60 mph when a wind gust of over 20 mph from 270 or west direction picked up the airplane and blew it off the runway. He recovered the airplane and continued to climb. At about 60 feet above runway the pilot put the nose down to gain speed only to be hit by another wind gust. That was a down draft catching the left wing. He tried to recover by putting nose down with level wings only to stall, pancaking to the ground and striking nose gear first, then the main gear collapsed. The airplane skidded over 150 feet resting on the bottom of the fuselage. The passengers and pilot climbed out of airplane with minor cuts and bruises.

NTSB Probable Cause

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.