Aeronca 7DC accident near Elgin, South Carolina, April 16, 1992
On April 16, 1992 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Aeronca 7DC, registered N2901E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elgin, South 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED SPARK PLUG BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1992 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elgin, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7DC · all 7DCs on the register
- Registration
- N2901E · registry record · serial 7AC-6484
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND LANDED IN A FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE TOP SPARK PLUG IN THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CYLINDER. IT REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE DISTRIBUTOR WIRE.
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: 1,400 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 1,375 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,093 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1991; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CUB Columbia SC at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from CAE, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL92LA081.