# NTSB CHI99FA260: Burns Pietenpol AIR Camper, N350MB, Oshkosh, WI, July 28, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 1999, 09:43 local (14:43 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI - Location: 43.9844° N, 88.5570° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WITTMAN RGNL (OSH), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9844&lon=-88.5570&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46882 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99FA260 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46882/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99FA260 ## Probable cause the pilot failed to maintain directional control and ground looped the airplane. Factors included the crosswind and the turbulence from the DC-3. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported he extended the approach to land on runway 18 taxiway where he had been cleared to land. He reported, 'At the same time as my approach and flare to land, a DC-3 was upwind and to the front of me landing on runway 18. On my flare out I encountered wind turbulence from the DC-3 that caused my upwind wing to pitch up while my left wing touched the taxiway. This resulted in a ground loop off the left side of the taxiway.' On the day of the accident the pilot reported to investigators that there was a crosswind and a little tailwind, and that he landed slightly crooked into the wind. He reported that he landed with power but was about 10 mph to slow for the crosswind conditions. He reported that a DC-3 had touched down on runway 18 before he landed on taxiway 18. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 1999, at 0943 central daylight time, an experimental Burns Pietenpol Air Camper, N350MB, was substantially damaged during landing. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed Hartford, Wisconsin, at 0945 CDT and was making a full stop landing on runway 18 at the Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The airplane veered to the left and went off the runway. The winds were 280 degrees at 7 knots with the wind direction varying between 240 to 300 degrees. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported he extended on approach to land on runway 18 taxiway where he had been cleared to land. He reported, "At the same time as my approach and flare to land, a DC-3 was upwind and to the front of me landing on runway 18. On my flare out I encountered wind turbulence from the DC-3 that caused my upwind wing to pitch up while my left wing touched the taxiway. This resulted in a ground loop off the left side of the taxiway." On the day of the accident the pilot reported there was a crosswind and a little tailwind, and that he landed slightly crooked into the wind. He reported that he landed with power but was about 10 mph to slow for the crosswind conditions. He reported that a DC-3 had touched down on runway 18 before he landed on taxiway 18. ## Aircraft - Registration: N350MB (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Burns PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER (PIETENPOL) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 46 - Engines: Continental A65-8A 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John M. Burns - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 26, 1999, 8 hours before - Departed: HXF, HARTFORD, WI - Destination: OSH - Airport: OSH, Wittman Regional, runway 18, 8,000 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 252 total, 53 in this make and model, 216 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19990728029099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990728029099A), Jul 28, 1999: Amtr AIRCAMPER, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. (.19) On July 28, 1999, at 0943 central daylight time, an experimental burns pietenpol air camper, N350MB, was substantially damaged during landing. The 14 CFR… 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.