Aeronca 11AC accident near Council Bluffs, Iowa, December 1, 1984
On December 1, 1984 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Aeronca 11AC, registered N86120, was substantially damaged in an accident near Council Bluffs, Iowa (Council Bluffs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 1, 1984 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Council Bluffs, Iowa · Council Bluffs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11AC · all 11ACs on the register
- Registration
- N86120 · registry record · serial 11AC 551
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN PRACTICING LANDINGS AND THEN CLIMBED THE ACFT TO 5000 FT ABOVE THE ARPT. HE FLEW AROUND FOR AWHILE TO COOL OFF THE ENG AND THEN HE SHUTDOWN IT DOWN TO PRACTICE RESTARTS. AFTER THE FIRST RESTART THE ENG WAS SHUT DOWN A SECOND TIME. THIS RESTART WAS UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE PROP HAD STOPPED WINDMILLING AND THIS ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A STARTER. UPON REACHING 2500 FT MSL, THE PLT BEGAN CONCENTRATING ON THE FORCED LANDING. AFTER ONE CIRCLE OVER THE ARPT THE PLT DETERMINED HE WAS STILL TOO HIGH AND MADE A SECOND CIRCLE. DURING THE SECOND CIRCLE, THE WIND, WHICH WAS GUSTING TO 25 KTS, BLEW THE ACFT AWAY FROM THE RWY. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SMALL TREE DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
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: 166 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 137 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 30°F (-1°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.