Aeronca 11AC accident near Gaithersburg, Maryland, August 21, 1988
On August 21, 1988 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Aeronca 11AC, registered N86346, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gaithersburg, Maryland (Montgomery County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1988 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gaithersburg, Maryland · Montgomery County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11AC · all 11ACs on the register
- Registration
- N86346 · no longer on the register · serial 11AC154
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE LOCAL WINDS WERE VARYING FROM 340 DEGREES TO 360 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DUE TO GUSTY WINDS WHILE ON LANDING ROLL. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED A VASI LIGHT AND THEN A DITCH.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 397 hours in all; 262 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 344 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,690 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 1987; 157 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MD48 Long Green MD at 3:54 pm
- Destination: GAI Gaithersburg MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,235 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:30 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.