Accident Witness

There I was, on my last day at EAAs 2016 AirVenture extravaganza in Oshkosh, Wis. It had been a great week, with a full Oshkosh experience, including camping in the rain, spending some money and catching up with old friends. The airplane was loaded and preflighted, the door was closed and I was strapped in. Id gotten the departure flick from the ATIS and from watching airplanes depart Runway 36L, the threshold for which was about 200 yards east and south of me. I was ready to power things back up, start the engine and get outta Dodge.

Key Takeaways:

• While departing EAA AirVenture 2016, the author witnessed a Rans S-7S light sport aircraft stall, spin, and crash from about 50 feet above ground level near the runway.
• Emergency services quickly responded, leading to a temporary airport closure and subsequent limited operations before the author could depart.
• An official FAA report later stated the aircraft "exited the runway while attempting a takeoff" with no injuries, which significantly contradicted the author's direct observation of a stall and spin from altitude.
• The author reflects on the unusual experience of witnessing an aircraft accident and the unanswered questions surrounding the incident's true cause, especially given the discrepancy with the official report.

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