Aeronca 7BCM (L-16A) accident near Auburn, Wyoming, July 22, 2015
On July 22, 2015, a 1947 Aeronca 7BCM (L-16A), registered N8362H, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Auburn, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while turning at low altitude, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and entering an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2015
- Place
- Auburn, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7BCM (L-16A), built 1947 · all 7BCM (L-16A)s on the register
- Registration
- N8362H · no longer on the register · serial 7BCM-126 (47-912)
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying at a low altitude and the rear occupant dropping candy to people on the ground. The airplane then proceeded east and crossed a highway before beginning a turn to return for another pass. One witness reported that the airplane then made a sudden turn and the nose of the airplane dropped; another witness reported that the airplane suddenly dipped. The airplane impacted the front yard of a private residence. A postcrash examination of the airplane showed flight control continuity. No anomalies were found with the airplane's engine or other systems. It is likely the pilot exceeded the airplane's critical angle-of-attack following the turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low of an altitude to recover.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,814 hours in all; 471 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 3, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Flight time: 11 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,109 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 2015; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 1,610 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KAFO Afton WY
- Destination: KAFO Afton WY
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from KAFO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N8362H 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.