Aeronca 7AC accident near Bowling Green, Missouri, June 2, 2022
On June 2, 2022 at about 10:45 pm local time, a 1946 Aeronca 7AC, registered N1976E, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Bowling Green, Missouri. 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 pilots’ failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2022 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bowling Green, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC, built 1946 · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N1976E · registry record · serial 7AC-5543
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two pilots were conducting a local flight to practice basic agricultural flight maneuvers. A witness observed the airplane enter a right turn at low altitude, during which the right wing dropped, and the airplane nosed down toward terrain and disappeared from his view. The airplane impacted terrain in a nose- and left-wing-low attitude in a field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane damage was consistent with a near-vertical descent, indicative of an aerodynamic stall. It could not be determined which of the two pilots was flying the airplane at the time of the accident. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilots’ failure to maintain sufficient airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.
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
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Flight crew
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 720 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,607 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 11, 2021
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 4,607 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from KHAE, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHAE 022235Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/03 A2999 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on November 8, 2023. 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 | Witness Statements | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Aircraft Maintenance Log Excerpts | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | NTSB Examination Summary | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Memorandum for Record A�� Autopsy | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Toxicological Report - Pilot # 1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Toxicological Report - Pilot # 2 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.