PA-20 Collision with Runway at Oshkosh During EAA AirVenture 2002 (N1592A)

Incident Overview and Context The accident occurred during EAA AirVenture 2002 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. A PA-20 collided with the runway after the pilot executed an abrupt maneuver to avoid another airplane. At the time, the airport terminal information service (ATIS) announced that VFR Oshkosh Arrival, Yellow Flow procedures were in effect. These procedures instructed pilots to join other traffic over a VFR checkpoint and travel around the northwest side of the airport, entering a right base leg for either runway 18L or 18R. ## Air Traffic Control and Traffic Flow In addition to landing VFR traffic on runways 18L and 18R, air traffic control (ATC) was also landing VFR traffic on runway 27. This was accomplished by having VFR traffic extend their base leg for the 18 runways, placing them on a right downwind for runway 27. The VFR landings on runway 27 were not outlined as part of the Yellow Flow procedures. The only landings on runway 27 included in the procedure were IFR arrivals approaching from the east and warbirds approaching from the southeast. ## Sequence of Events The PA-20 pilot was cleared to land on the “orange dot” (1,500 feet from the threshold) on runway 27. A Cessna 172 was cleared to land on the numbers of runway 27. During his landing flare, the PA-20 pilot reported seeing the Cessna 172 underneath his airplane. He pulled up and to the right to avoid a collision. The pilot stated he added full throttle and leveled the nose, but a strong wind from the left rolled the airplane to the left. Without enough airspeed for effective aileron control, he could not reverse the roll. The airplane stalled and spun into the runway from an altitude of about 120 feet. ## Pilot Reports and Environmental Conditions The Cessna 172 pilot reported a fairly strong left crosswind and that his airplane floated a little on the runway before touching down. Neither pilot reported seeing the other, and the Cessna 172 pilot was unaware that an accident had occurred. Winds at the time of the accident were from 230 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 22 knots. Neither airplane was issued go-around procedures from ATC. The PA-20 pilot reported that his passenger recalled hearing an ATC transmission about an airplane underneath them, but by that time he had already pulled up and it was too late.