Piper PA-28-180 and Aeronca 11AC accident near Portage, Wisconsin, June 23, 1988
On June 23, 1988 at about 10:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-180 (N44753) and Aeronca 11AC (N3865E), were involved in the same accident near Portage, Wisconsin (Portage airport). 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
- June 23, 1988 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Portage, Wisconsin · Portage
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N44753 · registry record · serial 287505006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Aeronca 11AC · all 11ACs on the register
- Registration
- N3865E · registry record · serial 11AC-S-66
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLL OUT THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT AS IT TAXIED ACROSS HIS PATH ON AN INTERSECTING RUNWAY. VISIBILITY OF THE OTHER RUNWAY WAS RESTRICTED BY A STAND OF TREES, BUT THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SAW THE OTHER AIRCRAFT AND IT APPEARED TO BE STOPPED, WAITING FOR HIM.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Aeronca 11AC final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAXI FROM LANDING THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND TAXIED ONTO A RUNWAY IN FRONT OF AN AIRCRAFT ON ITS LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE APPROACHED THE OTHER RUNWAY HIS VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED BY A STAND OF TREES, AND HE DID NOT SEE THE OTHER AIRCRAFT BEFORE HE TAXIED ONTO THE INTERSECTING RUNWAY.
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 for the Piper PA-28-180 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 88 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 47 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,632 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 1988; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 47C Boscobel WI at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 3,010 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from MSN, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Aeronca 11AC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 961 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 886 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,028 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1987; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C60 Montello WI at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,775 ft by 60 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.