Aeronca 15AC accident near St.Croix Falls, Wisconsin, March 3, 1991
On March 3, 1991 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Aeronca 15AC, registered N1340H, was involved in an accident near St.Croix Falls, Wisconsin (Flying J airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE TO CONDUCT A PASSENGER SAFETY BRIEFING, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION, BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE PASSENGER'S INATTENTIVENESS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 1991 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- St.Croix Falls, Wisconsin · Flying J · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 15AC · all 15ACs on the register
- Registration
- N1340H · registry record · serial 15AC-380
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT AND PASSENGER RETURNED FROM LOCAL FLIGHT AND TAXIED TO HANGAR AT PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. AN AUTOMOBILE WAS PARKED BETWEEN TAXIWAY AND HANGAR. PASSENGER EXITED AIRPLANE ON RIGHT SIDE TO GO MOVE AUTOMOBILE. AFTER EXITING, PASSENGER WALKED FORWARD THROUGH THE PROPELLER. ENGINE WAS AT IDLE POWER, APPROXIMATELY 500 RPM. PILOT DID NOT BRIEF PASSENGER ON PROPELLER HAZARD.
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: 714 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from STP, 32 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.