Piper PA-28-151 accident near Kenosha, Wisconsin, September 18, 1988
On September 18, 1988 at about 3:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N6252J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenosha, Wisconsin (Kenosha 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
- September 18, 1988 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Kenosha, Wisconsin · Kenosha · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N6252J · no longer on the register · serial 28-7615347
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A VFR APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, AT NIGHT, THE PILOT MISIDENTIFIED THE STREET LIGHTS IN A MOBILE HOME PARK AS THE RUNWAY LIGHTS AND DESCENDED INTO WIRES. AFTERWARD THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO THE INTENDED RUNWAY AND MADE A SUCCESSFUL LANDING. AFTER LANDING THE PILOT DISCOVERED PARTS OF THE TAIL MISSING INCLUDING THE RUDDER.
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: 1,450 hours in all; 125 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1988; 230 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Vagabond Flying Association
The flight
- Departed from: DPA West Chicago IL at 2:05 am
- Destination: ENW Kenosha WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24R, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 am from MKE, 22 miles away
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.