Aeronca 11AC accident near Ada, Kansas, June 3, 1988
On June 3, 1988 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Aeronca 11AC, registered N85985, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ada, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- June 3, 1988 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Ada, Kansas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11AC · all 11ACs on the register
- Registration
- N85985 · no longer on the register · serial 11AC 410
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE A/C CONTACTED POWERLINES ABOUT 25 FEET AGL, CONTACTED A TREE, BROKE ANOTHER POWERLINE, AND THEN CRASHED INTO A PICKUP TRUCK. NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH EITHER AIRFRAME OR POWERPLANT. A TOXICOLOGICAL TEST OF THE PILOT SHOWED THE ALCOHOL LEVEL IN HIS BLOOD TO BE 114 MG/DL. THE PILOT/OPERATOR AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT FORM FILLED OUT BY THE PILOT DID NOT CONTAIN ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHY HE WAS FLYING AT THAT ALTITUDE.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 274 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 274 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,029 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 9, 1987; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Minneapolis KS at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.