Aeronca 7BCM accident near Palmetto, Florida, June 10, 2000
On June 10, 2000 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 7BCM, registered N83972, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmetto, Florida (Manatee Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during final approach to landing, resulting in an inadvertent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 2000 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Palmetto, Florida · Manatee Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7BCM · all 7BCMs on the register
- Registration
- N83972 · no longer on the register · serial 7AC-2658
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was practicing a power-off landing on runway 7. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he retarded the throttle to idle. Shortly after turning onto final approach, he stated that he attempted to apply power but there was 'no response.' However, witnesses observed the pilot turn the airplane onto the base leg in a steep right bank at the midpoint of the runway. The steep bank continued while the airplane turned onto final approach, and the airplane descended rapidly. At 40 to 60 ft. agl, the wings were leveled while the airplane had diminutive forward airspeed. Both witnesses heard what sounded like power being applied to the engine moments before impact. The airplane then impacted the ground near the midfield point of the runway in a wings level attitude, damaging the propeller and right wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical discrepancies, and weather conditions at the time of the accident were not favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,300 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 7,058 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 1999; 135 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Seminole Aviation Assoc. INC.
The flight
- Departed from: X16 Vanderberg FL at 9:30 pm
- Destination: 48X
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,685 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from SRQ, 15 miles away
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.