Aeronca 7AC accident near Lakewood, New Jersey, April 1, 1995
On April 1, 1995 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N85713, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakewood, New Jersey (Lakewood 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
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions which resulted in an overrun. A factor is the sudden windshift.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 1995 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lakewood, New Jersey · Lakewood
- 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
- N85713 · registry record · serial 7AC-4460
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL THERE WAS A SUDDEN WINDSHIFT OF ABOUT 180 DEGREES. THE PILOT STATED HE COMPENSATED FOR THE WINDS USING FULL RUDDER, BRAKE, AND AILERON INPUT. THE PILOT SAID THAT DESPITE HIS CONTROL INPUT THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO SAND AND NOSED DOWN.
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: 864 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 739 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,987 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1995; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N12
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 3,457 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:15 pm
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.