# NTSB CHI03FA239: Gerlach Skyraider II, N1068S, Oshkosh, WI, August 2, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 2003, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI - Coordinates: 43.984443, -88.556945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9844&lon=-88.5569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA, Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57657 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03FA239 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57657/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA239 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff, his improper use of flaps during the takeoff, and his failure to attain sufficient airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with a road. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - flaps - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - roadway/highway ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted a road after takeoff. The pilot reported that the takeoff roll was long and the airplane's engine seemed to lose power. He stated that he "released [the] flaps to gain speed but the engine seem[ed] to have less power." The pilot said that after clearing the fence at the end of the runway, he turned right and crashed on the road. The passenger reported that on the accident flight the pilot used flaps during the takeoff and, in his opinion, the use of the flaps produced enough drag to slow the aircraft's speed on takeoff. A witness stated that he observed the accident airplane during the takeoff, and the airplane was "going too slow, too low, and was climbing too steeply." The witness stated that the airplane then stalled and struck the ground. He stated that the airplane's engine was running until the airplane struck the ground. In his written report, the pilot listed no mechanical malfunction of the airplane. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no pre-impact anomalies. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 2003, about 0920 central daylight time, an amateur-built Gerlach Skyraider II, N1068S, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a road after takeoff from the northwest ultralight runway (1,200 feet by 100 feet, turf), at the Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The flight was performed during the annual Experimental Aircraft Association gathering. The pilot reported that the engine lost power during the takeoff. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The local flight was originating when the accident occurred. In a written report of the accident, the pilot stated that the takeoff roll was long and the airplane's engine seemed to lose power. He stated that he "released [the] flaps to gain speed but the engine seem[ed] to have less power." The pilot said that after clearing the fence at the end of the runway, he turned right and crashed on the road. In his written report, the pilot listed no mechanical malfunction of the airplane. In a written statement to the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department, the pilot stated that the engine power "wasn't up to its normal standard. It did takeoff [and] seemed to get better but all of a sudden it seemed to lose power again. I tried to release the flaps to get some speed and the plane didn't respond." The pilot stated that the airplane kept losing speed and power. He stated that when the airplane cleared the fence, he attempted to land on the road. The passenger reported that the accident flight was his second flight of the day in the accident airplane. He stated that on the accident flight the pilot used flaps during the takeoff. He stated that, in his opinion, the use of the flaps produced enough drag to slow the aircraft's speed on takeoff. A witness stated that he observed the accident airplane during the takeoff. He stated that the airplane was "going too slow, too low, and it was climbing too steeply." The witness stated that the airplane then stalled and struck the ground. He stated that the airplane's engine was running until the airplane struck the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no pre-impact anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1068S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1068S-2005-09-28), registration cancelled 2005-09-28, S/N SRII-036, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Gerlach Skyraider II - Registry model: [Gerlach Mark SKYRAIDER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/gerlach-mark-skyraider-ii) (registry code 05614RC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Zenoah ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/zenoah-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 72000, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: SRII-036 - Engines: MZ 202 57 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Airport: OSH, Wittman Regional, runway 31, 1,200 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 11, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 166 total, 41 in this make and model, 166 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: OSH ## 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 20030802019769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030802019769A), Aug 2, 2003: Amtr SKYRAIDERII, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed the ultralight runway at Oshkosh, WI n/w bound in day, VMC conditions. Aircraft stalled on departure, right wing struck the ground,… 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.