The Oshkosh Arrival Procedure Needs A Serious "See and Avoid"
Mindset
I'm not sure what to say about this NTSB Prelim except for the
usual admonition... LOOK CAREFULLY when flying in conditions like
those associated with the famed Oshkosh arrival. No matter how many
times I've done it, it never fails to tax my skills when I least
expect it.
So.... exercise extreme caution in heavily trafficked
airspace...
NTSB Identification: CEN10IA447A/CEN10IA447B
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Incident occurred Tuesday, July 27, 2010 in Ripon, WI
Aircraft: PIPER PA-11, registration: N78659/PIPER PA-32R-301,
registration: N8159B
Injuries: 3 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may
contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
On July 27, 2010, approximately 1215 central daylight time,
N8159B, a Piper PA-32R-301, collided with N78659, a Piper PA-11,
while both airplanes were maneuvering over Ripon, Wisconsin, to fly
the FISK visual flight rules (VFR) arrival to Oshkosh (KOSH),
Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time
of the accident. Both flights were being conducted under the
provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without
flight plans. The commercial pilot aboard the Piper PA-32R-301 and
the commercial pilot and passenger aboard the Piper PA-11 were not
injured. The Piper PA-32R-301 departed Juneau, Wisconsin, and the
Piper PA-11 departed Fort Wayne, Indiana. Both airplanes were en
route to KOSH.
According to a verbal statement taken from the pilot of the
Piper PA-32R-301, he was monitoring FISK and heard the controllers
advise the airplane to “keep their speed up.” He had
joined the arrival route just west of Ripon and was at 1,800 feet
and between 95 and 100 knots. He observed a Cessna one mile ahead
of him and followed that Cessna. Approximately two miles east of
Ripon he heard a soft “thud.” Shortly thereafter he
heard another airplane transmit that another airplane had just hit
them. He responded that he had hit the other airplane. The Piper
PA-32R-301 continued to KOSH and landed on runway 18 right. During
the landing roll, the pilot was not able to maintain directional
control and departed the runway to the left. An examination of the
airplane revealed damage to the left main landing gear tire.
According to a verbal statement taken from the pilot of the
Piper PA-11, he was just east of FISK when an airplane struck his
airplane from above. The airplane continued to fly past him to the
east and he reported the collision on the FISK frequency. The pilot
noted a vibration in the engine; however, he was able to reduce
power and continue to KOSH. The pilot performed a straight in
landing to runway 09 without further incident. An examination of
the airplane revealed damage to one propeller blade.