Aeronca 7AC accident near Chataniak Vly, Alaska, July 17, 1991
On July 17, 1991 at about 6:00 am local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N84903, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chataniak Vly, 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
PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1991 · about 6:00 am local time
- Place
- Chataniak Vly, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N84903 · registry record · serial 4702468
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED HE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE PROBLEM DURING HIS TAKEOFF AND SUBSEQUENTLY WAS FORCED TO LAND OFF THE LAKE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE, AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE TEST RUN, SHOWED NO REASON FOR A MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS MISLABELED. THE CENTER POSITION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS LABELED 'MAIN,' BUT WAS ACTUALLY AN 'OFF' POSITION. IT WAS UNDETERMINABLE WHAT POSITION THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS IN DURING THE TAKEOFF AND CRASH SEQUENCE. AUTOMOTIVE FUEL WAS BEING USED WITHOUT A SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE.
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: 204 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 166 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,601 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 110 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Bradley Sky AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.
Other NTSB records under N84903 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.