Aeronca 7AC accident near Screven, Georgia, September 10, 1989
On September 10, 1989 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N82705, was substantially damaged in an accident near Screven, Georgia. It was a business 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
FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO CORRECT RIGHT BRAKE ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS DURING BRAKE REPAIRS WHICH LED TO A FAILURE OF THE RIGHT BRAKE, AND THE PILOT'S DELAY IN TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION TO CORRECT THE VEERING INITIATED BY THE BRAKE FAILURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1989 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Screven, Georgia · 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
- N82705 · registry record · serial 7AC-1351
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT LANDED ON A RURAL ROAD, DUE TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN CONDITIONS ON THE SOD FIELD WHERE HE HAD INTENDED TO LAND. DURING THE LDG, THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A DTICH. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE ROLLOUT, THE RT BRAKE BEGAN TO FAIL AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VEER SLOWLY TO THE LEFT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE VEERING BY RELEASING THE LEFT BRAKE AND APPLYING RIGHT RUDDER/TAILWHEEL STEERING. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO VEER LEFT, HOWEVER, AND ROLLED INTO THE DITCH. THE PLT ATTRIBUTED THE RT BRAKE FAILURE TO BRAKE ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS; HE INDICATED THAT THE RT BRAKE HAD A HISTORY OF ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS COMPARED TO THE LT BRAKE, AND REQUIRED PERIODIC ADJUSTMENT. THE PLT DID NOT REPORT FINDING ANY OBVIOUS MECHANICAL FAILURES DURING HIS POST-CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE. ACCORDING TO AIRPLANE MAINTENANCE RECORDS, THE CABLE-OPERATED BRAKE SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED DURING THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION, ABOUT 4 MONTHS EARLIER.
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: 153 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 113 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,670 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1989; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AMG Alma GA at 2:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from AMG, 25 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.