Aeronca 7AC accident near Wilson, North Carolina, November 8, 1991
On November 8, 1991 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N84399, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wilson, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INTENTIONAL OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 1991 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wilson, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N84399 · registry record · serial 7AC-3094
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STOPPED AND HE WAS FORCED TO ATTEMPT AN EMERGENCY OFF AIRPORT LANDING. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MEASURABLE FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS, AND FIFTY CC'S OF FUEL WAS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT LINES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE PRIMER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PUT FIVE GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT THE DAY BEFORE, AND DID NOT STATE THAT HE VERIFIED THE FUEL QUANTITY PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 260 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 141 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,352 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LFH Louisburg NC at 12:10 pm
- Destination: WO5 Wilson NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N84399 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.