Aeronca 7AC accident near Carthage, Tennessee, April 15, 2004
On April 15, 2004 at about 10:28 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N2908E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carthage, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain visual lookout and clearance while maneuvering resulting in an in-flight collision with wires and subsequent collision with water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 2004 · about 10:28 pm local time
- Place
- Carthage, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N2908E · registry record · serial 7AC6491
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying in the vicinity of a river. He started a turn when his passenger stated, "watch the wires." The airplane collided with two of four wires and collided with the river. The pilot stated he should have been more alert about his surroundings. He further stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane before it collided with the wires and the water.
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: 1,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,567 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 2003; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,240 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SRB Sparta TN at 9:30 pm
- Destination: M54 Lebanon TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BNA, 20 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.
Other NTSB records under N2908E 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.