N579CA

On July 28, 1993, at 1840 central daylight time, a North American F-51, N6327T, registered to Richard P. James of Fennimore, Wisconsin, collided with an Aero Commander 114B, N579CA, registered to Commander Aircraft Company of Bethany, Oklahoma, while taxiing from landing on runway 27 at Fond Du Lac County Airport, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. The F-51 received minor damage while the 114B sustained substantial damage. The pilot of the F-51 and the pilot and three passengers in the 114B reported no injuries. Both airplanes were operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The F-51 had last departed Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, at 1820. The Commander 114B had last departed Saint Paul, Minnesota, at 1700.

This accident occurred during the annual Experimental Aircraft Association's convention at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The arrivals and departures at Fond Du Lac County Airport were controlled by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporary air traffic control tower; however, ground operations were being handled by flagmen on the taxiways.

According to the statement by the pilot of the F-51, after landing on runway 27 and taxiing off the runway at the west end, he began to taxi eastbound behind approximately three other airplanes. He stated that airplanes were parked on both sides of the taxiway and prevented him from making normal S-turns. Due to the difficulty in maintaining a visual outlook ahead of the F-51, he decided to contact the tower by radio for assistance. The airplane continued to move forward while his attention was diverted to communicating on the radio and the F-51 collided with the tail of the Aero Commander 114B.

The pilot of the Aero Commander 114B stated he landed on runway 27. After taxing off the runway onto the taxiway at center field, the flagman waved him to taxi in front of the F-51. He stated that as he taxied eastbound the F-51 overtook his airplane and the propeller of the F-51 collided with the tail of the Aero Commander 114B.