Aeronca BL-7-AC accident near Pell City, Alabama, September 24, 2003
On September 24, 2003 at about 11:31 pm local time, a Aeronca BL-7-AC, registered N83608, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pell City, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots failure to maintain airspeed that resulted in the loss of control and the subsequent collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 2003 · about 11:31 pm local time
- Place
- Pell City, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca BL-7-AC
- Registration
- N83608 · no longer on the register · serial 7AC2284
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to practice flight maneuvers. While practicing a slip maneuver, the pilot states that the airplane's left wing and nose dropped abruptly to nearly vertical. The airplane stalled and collided with the ground in a three-point attitude. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. Post-accident examination of airplane failed to disclose any mechanical problems. Examination of the airplane revealed that the spar of the right wing was bent, and the engine firewall was buckled.
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: 715 hours in all; 301 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 609 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 2, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 7 AC Champ (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PLR Pell City AL at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from BHM, 20 miles away
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.
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.