Aeronca 7AC accident near Sitka, Alaska, February 17, 1992
On February 17, 1992 at about 8:13 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N82380, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sitka, Alaska (Sitka airport). It was an instructional 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 PILOT/FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND THE SUBSEQUENT GROUND LOOP/SWERVE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 1992 · about 8:13 pm local time
- Place
- Sitka, Alaska · Sitka · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N82380 · registry record · serial 7AC-1013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT CERTIFICATED PILOT/FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL HE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF CROSSWIND THAT CAUSED HIM TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND GROUND LOOP THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND STRUCK ROCKS WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 10,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1991; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-T1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from SIT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.