Aeronca 11AC accident near Athens, Texas, September 18, 1988
On September 18, 1988 at about 8:01 pm local time, a Aeronca 11AC, registered N86311, was substantially damaged in an accident near Athens, Texas (Athens Municipal 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
- September 18, 1988 · about 8:01 pm local time
- Place
- Athens, Texas · Athens Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11AC · all 11ACs on the register
- Registration
- N86311 · registry record · serial 11AC115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER SETTING THE AIRCRAFT DOWN IN THE GRASS TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT STATED THAT A 40 MPH WIND GUST PICKED THE RIGHT WING UP AND SET THE AIRCRAFT ON ITS NOSE. HE ATTEMPTED TO KEEP THE FUSELAGE FROM TIPPING ALL THE WAY OVER AFTER DISEMBARKING; HOWEVER, THE WIND CONTINUED AND THE AIRCRAFT FELL ON ITS BACK. TOXICOLOGY TESTS OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD INDICATED 0.07% ALCOHOL.
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
- Flight time: 60 hours in all; 60 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRS Corsicana TX at 6:20 pm
- Destination: F44 Athens TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.