History of Flight
On July 31, 2014, about 0857 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Zimmerman Breezy, registration N3AZ, departed the paved surface of runway 36R at Wittman Regional Airport (OSH) near Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The airplane impacted parked armored vehicles east of the runway, and a ground fire ensued. The pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial wing and fuselage damage. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, in day visual flight rules conditions. No flight plan was filed; the local flight originated from OSH.
The rear-seat passenger, a volunteer at the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture Oshkosh 2014, reported that she had signed a waiver and received a safety brief before the flight. She described three landing attempts: the first was a good landing, after which the airplane turned right; the pilot pulled up and landed again, also described as good; during the third landing, the airplane turned right again, struck a taxiway light, and then hit a truck. She recalled being separated from the airplane and waking up on the ground.
A pilot flying a Mooney behind the Breezy reported that he heard the controller instruct the Breezy to "pick it up a bit" and that a Mooney was behind. He observed the Breezy become airborne again, fly low for a short distance, then land again and veer left before correcting. It then veered off the right side of the runway, became airborne, and struck a row of parked military vehicles. He noted that the tail of the aircraft appeared to hit a vehicle, causing it to flip over.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The airplane was an experimental amateur-built Zimmerman Breezy, high-wing, propeller-driven, fixed landing gear, tandem two-seat, serial number JD1. It was powered by a Lycoming O-235-C1 engine, rated at 108 horsepower. At the last condition inspection on July 10, 2014, the airframe had accumulated 1,230.6 hours and the engine 94.2 hours. The aircraft was registered to A Z Air Lease Inc. and operated by the pilot.
The 74-year-old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with multiple ratings and a third-class medical certificate dated May 21, 2014, with a limitation to wear corrective lenses. He reported 2,490 total flight hours.
Meteorological and Airport Information
At 0853, the recorded weather at OSH was: wind 300 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 20°C, dew point 16°C, altimeter 30.00 inches of mercury.
Runway 36R was the active runway. The impacted vehicles were parked outside the safety area associated with the temporary runway.
Wreckage and Impact
The fuselage came to rest on its right side on the rear section of an armored Oshkosh vehicle. The right wing, engine, and right main landing gear were on the ground behind the vehicle; the right wing fabric was consumed by fire. The left wing separated and was found about 25 feet north of the fuselage, with aileron control cables exhibiting overload separation. The empennage separated and was located about 55 feet north. Flight control cables were traced; all breaks were consistent with overload, and no pre-impact anomalies were found in engine controls. Debris including fuselage tubing and laminated wood shards was scattered between other armored vehicles and the fuselage.
Examination of runway 36R revealed no debris or separated parts. A path of disturbed grass led from the runway edge northeast toward the parked vehicles. A taxiway light was found separated from its base in the disturbed grass.
Additional Observations
The passenger stated that she did not see anything fall from the airplane, and that the engine did not sputter or make unusual sounds. She noted that the pilot did not perform preflight inspections between flights. A GoPro camera belonging to the passenger was found but contained no accident-related data.
Fire damage was consistent with a ground fire, as confirmed by witness statements. An autopsy listed multiple blunt force injuries as the cause of death for the pilot. Toxicology tests were negative.