Aeronca 7AC accident near Harrah, Oklahoma, July 23, 2021
On July 23, 2021 at about 8:20 pm local time, a 1946 Aeronca 7AC, registered N83365, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Harrah, Oklahoma (Steciak Strip airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s decision to fly the airplane without a carburetor heat control in atmospheric conditions conducive to the development of serious carburetor icing, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2021 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Harrah, Oklahoma · Steciak Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC, built 1946 · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N83365 · no longer on the register · serial 7AC-2032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and pilot-rated-passenger departed in an airplane that did not have a carburetor heat control installed. After takeoff, the engine surged several times and then lost partial power. The pilot completed a forced landing to a field and nosed over; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and rudder. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of serious carburetor icing at glide and cruise power. Given the available evidence, it is likely that carburetor ice accumulated during the flight and resulted in a loss of engine power. It is likely that use of carburetor heat would have prevented the accident.
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
- Fuel related during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,475 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 2,242 as pilot in command; 1,835 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 1, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,240 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 (piston); 257 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 2,375 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from KSNL, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSNL 232115Z AUTO 18012KT 10SM SCT040 SCT049 SCT060 32/20 A3005 RMK AO2 T03230199=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 7, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Correspondence - Pilot-rated-passenger | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N83365 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.