Piper PA-38-112 accident near Grafton, Wisconsin, July 2, 1988
On July 2, 1988 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2496K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grafton, Wisconsin (Ashenfetter airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- July 2, 1988 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Grafton, Wisconsin · Ashenfetter · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2496K · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0667
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE LANDING AT A 1,900' SOD AIRSTRIP WITH A 10 KNOT CROSSWIND, THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED TO THE LEFT, RAN OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK SOME SMALL TREES AND SHRUBS. THE PILOT LACKED TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN LOW WING AIRCRAFT AND LACKED FAMILIARITY WITH THAT PARTICULAR AIRCRAFT.
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: 489 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 489 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 971 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 13, 1987; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 50C Cedarburg WI at 10:53 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 1,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from MWC, 15 miles away
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.