Piper PA-28-180 and Cessna 172F mid-air collision near Moraine, Ohio, July 7, 1988
On July 7, 1988 at about 11:35 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-180 (N7222W) and Cessna 172F (N8611U), were involved in a mid-air collision near Moraine, Ohio (Moraine airport). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 7, 1988 · about 11:35 pm local time
- Place
- Moraine, Ohio · Moraine
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7222W · no longer on the register · serial 28-1037
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8611U · no longer on the register · serial 17252512
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH N7222W EXPERIENCED A MIDAIR COLLISION WITH N8611U ON A SIMILAR APPROACH. N7222W WAS A LOW WING ACFT AND WAS BEHIND AND ABOVE N8611U WHICH WAS A HIGH WING AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT OF N7222W STATED THAT HIS FIRST KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMPENDING COLLISION WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF SECOND BEFORE THE ACTUAL COLLISION WHEN THE OTHER AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO 'PULL UP SHARPLY', INTO HIM. HE TOLD RESPONDING LOCAL AUTHORITIES THAT HE DID NOT HAVE HIS RADIO TURNED ON AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT.
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 Cessna 172F final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH N7222W EXPERIENCED A MIDAIR COLLISION WITH N8611U ON A SIMILAR APPROACH. N8611U WAS A HIGH WING AIRCRAFT AND WAS IN FRONT OF AND BELOW N7222W WHICH WAS A LOW WING AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT OF N8611U STATED THAT HE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT, HOWEVER HAD HIS RADIO TUNED TO THE UNICOM FREQUENCY AND HEARD A WARNING FROM ANOTHER AIRCRAFT THAT A 'HIGH WING AND LOW WING AIRCRAFT (WERE) COMING TOGETHER AND TO GET OUT'. HE STATED THAT HE 'APPLIED POWER AND PUSHED THE STICK FORWARD, AT THE SAME TIME, TO GAIN SPEED', HOWEVER THE 'OTHER AIRCRAFT STRUCK (HIM) FROM BEHIND. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT.
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: student
- Flight time: 556 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 514 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 401 Waynesville OH at 11:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,500 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from DAY, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172F from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 242 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 192 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,926 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 1988; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I77 Cincinnati OH at 11:00 pm
- Destination: I73 Moraine OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,500 ft by 65 ft
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.