Aeronca 7AC accident near Columbus, Ohio, July 21, 1987
On July 21, 1987 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N443WB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Ohio (South Columbus airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 1987 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · South Columbus · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N443WB · registry record · serial 7AC367
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LDG AS THE TAILWHEEL TOUCHED DOWN, AND HE EXECUTED A GO-AROUND. ON THE 2ND LDG ATTEMPT, THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RWY, TRAVELED ACROSS A GRASSY AREA, AND IMPACTED A PARKED C-172. POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE TAILWHEEL STEERING YOKE HAD BROKEN; THE YOKE HAD FRACTURED ACROSS ONE OF TWO RETAINING-BOLT HOLES IN THE YOKE SHAFT. OVERSIZED BOLTS WERE FOUND INSTALLED IN THE HOLES. THE AIRPLANE WAS ESTIMATED TO HAVE TRAVELED APPROX 800 FEET AFTER TOUCHDOWN PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE PARKED 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 430 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,255 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 20, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C65 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: 443 Flying Club
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,150 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from CMH, 7 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.