Aeronca 11AC accident near Tampa, Florida, December 6, 1988
On December 6, 1988 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Aeronca 11AC, registered N86073, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tampa, Florida (Vandenberg airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- December 6, 1988 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Tampa, Florida · Vandenberg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11AC · all 11ACs on the register
- Registration
- N86073 · registry record · serial 11AC496
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING IN A CROSSWIND. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE AGGRAVATED THE LOSS OF CONTROL BY OVER-APPLICATION OF THE CONTROLS AND ADDING FULL THROTTLE WHICH LED TO THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTING THE RWY AND COLLIDING WITH A FENCE. HE STATED THAT THE CHECK PLT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL BECAUSE OF PLT CONTROL INPUTS AND THE CHECK PLT NOT HAVING BRAKES ON HIS SIDE.
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: 1,500 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,425 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 530 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 30, 1988; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,260 ft by 65 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from TPA, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.