Aeronca 7AC accident near Eustis, Florida, December 22, 1997
On December 22, 1997 at about 8:12 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N83589, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eustis, Florida (Mid Florida Air Service airport). 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
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground swerve and subsequent collision with a parked airplane. Related factors were: the pilot's lack of experience in tailwheel aircraft, the crosswind, and the proximity of the parked airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 1997 · about 8:12 pm local time
- Place
- Eustis, Florida · Mid Florida Air Service · 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
- N83589 · registry record · serial 2265
- 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 this was his second solo flight in a tailwheel airplane. There was a 45 degree crosswind from the right at 8 knots. According to the pilot, while rolling out, the airplane struck a runway light on the right side of the runway. The right gear collapsed during the collision, and the airplane veered off the runway to the right, striking another airplane parked on the ramp. An FAA inspector stated the landing gear strut failed during collision with 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 120 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 80 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,148 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mid Florida Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: X55 at 7:56 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:37 pm from SFB, 25 miles away
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.
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.