Wind Tipped Plane Onto Its Wing

Somewhat gusty crosswinds across Runway 36 at Wittman Field appear to have claimed a vintage Piper Tri-Pacer Wednesday, but fortunately no one was seriously injured.

The Oshkosh Northwestern reports three people were taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure after the aircraft (file photo of type, right) departed the runway on takeoff. Witness Jeff Christian told the paper a gust appeared to catch the high-wing plane, tipping it onto its left wing and causing the aircraft to skid off the pavement and into a ditch.

The Oshkosh Fire Department and Winnebago County Sheriff's Department responded to the accident, which shut down operations along show center for about an hour.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 3671A        Make/Model: PA22      Description: PA-22 Tri-Pacer, Caribbean, Colt
  Date: 07/30/2008     Time: 1802

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Minor     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
  City: OSHKOSH   State: WI   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT ON DEPARTURE, LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, OSHKOSH, WI

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   1     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   2     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   2     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: SPECI KOSH 301804Z 2801G18KT 10SM FEW050 SCT060 28/16 A2972

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Take-off      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: MILWAUKEE, WI  (GL13)                 Entry date: 07/31/2008

FMI: www.faa.gov