Aeronca 7CCM accident near Kenai, Alaska, March 20, 2025
On March 20, 2025 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1946 Aeronca 7CCM, registered N2527B, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Kenai, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing as a result of the pilot’s inadequate use of carburetor heat.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2025 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kenai, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7CCM, built 1946 · all 7CCMs on the register
- Registration
- N2527B · registry record · serial 48-507
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during cruise flight about 1,500 ft mean sea level, the engine lost total power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an abandoned access road. During the landing, the airplane collided with trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The weather conditions near the accident location about the time of the accident were conducive to carburetor ice at glide or cruise power. The pilot had been flying in the area and had completed her flight review earlier in the day with no carburetor icing issues. Although she had been using carburetor heat throughout the day, she could not remember if the carburetor heat was in the On or Off position when the engine lost power. The carburetor heat control was found in the Off position after the accident. The pilot does not remember if the carburetor heat was in the on or off position. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the results of the engine examination and the postaccident position of the carburetor heat control, the loss of engine power was likely due to carburetor icing that had accrued due to an inadequate application of carburetor heat.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel related during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Response/compensation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,011.2 hours in all; 658 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 20, 2025
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12 (piston); 1,554 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PASX Soldotna AK at 10:00 pm
- Destination: PVT Kenai AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.23 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from PAEN, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAEN 202153Z 08008KT 10SM CLR 06/M04 A2923 RMK AO2 SLP901 T00561044
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 22, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Engine Examination | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.