Amateur-built TIERRA II accident near Audubon, Iowa, June 5, 1988
On June 5, 1988 at about 2:15 pm local time, a amateur-built TIERRA II, registered N116LB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Audubon, Iowa (Audubon Municipal 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
- June 5, 1988 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Audubon, Iowa · Audubon Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TIERRA II
- Registration
- N116LB · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE TAKEOFF RUN AND LIFTOFF APPEARED NORMAL, BUT AFTER LIFTOFF THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT (INTO THE CROSSWIND). THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT WITH LEFT RUDDER AND AILERON. WHEN HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, HE RETARDED THROTTLE. THE PLANE STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE RIGHT WING AND RIGHT LANDING GEAR, STARTED TO GROUND-LOOP, HIT TWO PEDESTRIANS AND A PARKED A/C.
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: 181 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 181 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 1988; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 534 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: DNS Denison IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.