# NTSB CEN25LA259: Piper PA-20, N7369K, Oshkosh, WI, July 18, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 18, 2025, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI - Coordinates: 43.977081, -88.557106 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9771&lon=-88.5571&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 2, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200575 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA259 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200575/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200575 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA259 ## Probable cause The pilot’s aggressive brake application which resulted in a loss of directional control and a ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-20, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102002), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing on runway 36L. The airplane in front of him landed short of their assigned point and started to decelerate rapidly. The pilot wanted to avoid a collision; however, he applied the brakes too hard and the airplane ground looped. The right wing and right elevator struck the ground which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7369K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7369K), registered now, S/N 20-278, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-20 - Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-278 - Year built: 1950 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 2025 - Departed: DKB, Dekalb, IL - Destination: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Airport: OSH, Wittman Regional Airport, runway 36L, 8,002 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 17, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 419.8 total, 338 in this make and model, 5.6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KOSH, 1 nm away - METAR: KOSH 182153Z 20006KT 10SM SCT043 24/16 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP168 T02440156 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250718012499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250718012499A), Jul 18, 2025: Piper PA-20, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. On 7/19/2025, at 1725 CDT, during the [privacy data omitted] airshow event, aircraft did a ground loop upon landing on runway 36L and came to a stop on the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 2, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200575. 17.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 16.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19259643&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident report pictures (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19267013&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20Photographs-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.