Here’s how many people have died in crashes related to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh since 1982

OSHKOSH – Monday's plane crash during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh isn't the first tragic incident to take place during the annual week-long convention and fly-in.

Two people died Monday when a plane crashed in a farm field near Old Knapp Road and Nekimi Avenue, 2 miles south of the EAA AirVenture grounds.

The plane was found fully engulfed in flames once emergency responders reached the field, where it was found two men had died. The men were identified July 24 by the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office as Sean Tommervik, 37, of El Paso, Texas, and James Sullivan, 32, of Nashville, Tennessee.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

During last year's AirVenture, five unexpected forced landings or crashes were reported in the region, with two fatal crashes July 29, 2023 . No one was seriously hurt in the other three incidents.

Here's a look at some notable fatal crashes across Wisconsin with some connection EAA AirVenture Oshkosh dating back to the early 1980s. In some cases, the crashes happened near or on the convention grounds, while others involved pilots either headed to, or headed home, from the convention.

The data come from the National Transportation Safety Board , which investigates the crashes. This list is not exhaustive, and excludes crashes headed to or from AirVenture that took place outside the state. If you know of a fatal crash missing from this list, contact Rashad Alexander at ralexander@gannett.com to have it added.

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Deaths related to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh total at least 34 since 1982

• July 29, 2023 : A gyroplane and helicopter collided midair while maneuvering for a landing at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. Two people were killed and two others were seriously injured. According to the report, this was the gyroplane pilot’s first event in which he flew the gyroplane.
• July 27, 2017: An aircraft hit a wave while taking off from the EAA's Seaplane Base . The plane crashed on Lake Winnebago, injuring its four passengers. One passenger died the following day, and its pilot died on July 31. The Oshkosh Northwestern previously reported the pilot was warned by Seaplane Base personnel that the water conditions were rough, even showing the pilot the waves of one and a half to two feet. The pilot still proceeded with the departure.
• July 26, 2015: Two men on the way to EAA died when their plane crashed in the village of Bristol. The plane was found by authorities in a grassy field, yards away from a home.
• July 31, 2014 : In a 10-minute flight during EAA AirVenture 2014, the pilot lost control of the airplane, striking a parked vehicle on the ground. The pilot was killed and the passenger was seriously injured. The probable cause of the crash, according to NTSB, is the pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during landing while the air traffic controller was simultaneously coordinating the landing of three airplanes on the same runway.
• July 31, 2008 : A plane reportedly had a stall, coming down 100 yards before reaching the end of the runway at Wittman Regional Airport. Two occupants involved were killed. NTSB's investigation determined probable cause as the pilot failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing.
• July 27, 2007 : A plane collided with the tail of another plane while it was landing on the runway Wittman Regional Airport. The pilot who hit the leading plane was killed, while the pilot who was hit walked away with no injuries. The pilot who was hit reported he thought the other plane was departing and not landing.
• July 30, 2006 : During an air show, a Grumman TBM-3, Avenger, crashed into the rear of another aircraft. A passenger in the vehicle that was hit died. NTSB determined the probable cause was that the Avenger pilot's visual lookout was inadequate and he failed to maintain clearance from the other plane.
• July 23, 2006 : An airplane lost control and crashed into the runway at Wittman Regional Airport after it stalled. The pilot was flying to Oshkosh for EAA AirVenture. The pilot and the passenger were killed. NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed on final approach, which resulted in a stall.
• Aug. 1, 2004 : An amateur-built plane was destroyed when it hit a light pole and then the ground in Madison during a landing following a loss of engine power. The accident occurred when the pilot was returning home from AirVenture, headed for Rockford, Illinois. The pilot was fatally injured, according to NTSB.
• July 26, 2001 : An airplane was destroyed after impacting the ground and engulfing in flames. The NTSB ruled the probably cause as an inadvertent spin/stall by the pilot, who was fatally injured. The impact happened at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.
• July 24, 2001 : An airplane hit the ground after a loss of control when making the final approach to Wittman Regional Airport. The pilot was killed and the plane was destroyed. NTSB reported failing to maintain the aircraft and the pilot's overall lack of experience in the vessel as causes for the crash.
• July 28, 2000: An airplane crashed in Sauk City during a cross country flight headed for AirVenture. Four people were killed in the flight, three passengers and the pilot. NTSB ruled the probable cause as exceeding the design limits of the aircraft.
• Aug. 2, 1998 : Witnesses say a airplane made an abrupt turn in the air from west to south, diving into trees and bursting into flames. Accounts say this was after the plane struck a power pole. NTSB ruled probable cause as the pilot failing to maintain altitude, which resulted in the collision with trees. A passenger was killed, while the pilot was seriously injured. The plane was approaching Wittman Regional Airport.
• July 31, 1998 : A plane inbound from Kankakee, Illinois, to Oshkosh hit a power line in Coloma and came tumbling down, according to a witness. The pilot was killed.
• Aug. 5, 1997 : A pilot sustained fatal injuries after departing Oshkosh after their plane had a mechanical failure. NTSB ruled probable cause as the kit manufacturer's use of inadequate material in construction of the airplane.
• Aug. 4, 1997 : Near Poygen, a pilot and passenger died after a plane hit the ground. NTSB ruled probable cause of a crash as a loss control of the aircraft. In this case, NTSB said the crash had no witnesses, though the property owner heard the plane come down.
• Aug. 8, 1996 : In Fond du Lac, witnesses saw a plane spiraling down with smoke coming from it before it crashed. NTSB investigations ruled the cause as the fatigue in the propeller's flange. The pilot died.
• Aug. 3, 1992 : A plane crashed in Oshkosh after the empennage and tailboom assembly separated from the fuselage/hull during descent. Two people died.
• Aug. 2, 1992 : A pilot was participating in a fly-by during EAA when the plane appeared to enter a steep bank, causing a loss of control by the pilot. The pilot died from a heart attack before the crash, according to NTSB.
• Aug. 2, 1990 : Aircraft was performing maneuvers in connections with EAA when the vehicle committed to an unexpected snap roll, descending into the terrain. NTSP said the pilot, who was fatally injured, failed to maintain speed when dealing with a stall.
• Aug. 6, 1983 : During an air show, an aircraft hit the ground before recovering from its spin. According to NTSB, the pilot suffered severe neck and brain injuries, ultimately dying six days after the accident.
• July 31, 1983 : During a showcase, an aircraft was destroyed after striking a tree. NTSB claims the aircraft was in an inverted position while in the air. The crash resulted in one death.
• Aug. 3, 1982 : A report from NTSB reported two aircrafts made contact while in flight in Oshkosh, resulting in two deaths.

How many pilots participate in EAA?

According to Dick Knapinski, EAA director of communications, 8,000 to 12,000 airplanes come to the Oshkosh region, with pilots landing in the Green Bay, Appleton and Fond du Lac areas as well.

How is EAA promoting pilot safety?

Knapinski told the Oshkosh Northwestern that EAA gives airmen a 32-page document that is required for pilots to read. They also put on a number of videos of how to safely fly the pattern, and specific landmarks to look out for.

He also explained incidents should not be linked to another, as each crash involves unique factors.

"Look at every incident as a separate occurrence, because most of the time, there are factors that are specific to that specific incident that may have caused it to happen," Knapinski said. "That could be anything from weather to flight experience, to what they did with a certain maneuver, things like that."

EAA's year-round impact: EAA is a year-round attraction beyond just AirVenture. Here's a look at its impact.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024 runs through July 28.

The 71st EAA AirVenture Oshkosh runs daily through July 28 at Wittman Regional Airport, 525 W. 20th Ave., Oshkosh. Daily tickets are $45 for adult members and $63 for adult non-members. Veterans and active military members pay $45 while kids 18 years and younger are admitted free. For more information, visit eaa.org/airventure .

Rashad Alexander can be reached at ralexander@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Here’s how many people have died in crashes related to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh since 1982