Aeronca 7AC accident near Lakeville, Minnesota, June 24, 2000
On June 24, 2000 at about 1:30 am local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N81681, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeville, Minnesota (Airlake Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot not maintaining aircraft control and the stall/spin she encountered during the approach on base to final. A factor was the pilot passenger not detecting the remedial action needed to correct the aircraft's nose up attitude during the approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2000 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Lakeville, Minnesota · Airlake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N81681 · registry record · serial 7AC-300
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted terrain following an in-flight loss of control while on approach to runway 12. The front seat pilot was fatally injured and the pilot rated rear seat occupant was seriously injured. A witness stated, "On several of these approaches, I noticed that the nose would rise to above level flight slightly during or after the turn, and it appeared that the application of right rudder was used to force the nose to align with the runway causing a skid during a portion of the turn. ... I commented to my wife that the technique used would likely be disastrous some day for whoever was flying the plane. ... It was apparent that the same techniques were being used on this approach, and suddenly the right wing started down, rotation began and the aircraft contacted the ground nearly straight down, maybe a block from the end of the runway facing west/northwest. The close in base leg with relatively flat turn (bank angle) and skid from right rudder application were visible before the roll started. The engine was audible, sounding as though normal full throttle had been applied, in an attempt to recover from the obvious spin that had begun. The aircraft spun to the right and hit the ground." Another witness stated, " I do not believe he was belted in - when I looked into the cockpit to check on pilot (female front seat) the rear seat belt on left side appeared to be somewhat neatly tucked in next to the seat. The right side belt was hanging out of the aircraft, which was the side he came out of." The pilot rated rear seat occupant stated that the aircraft did not have a nose up attitude before it nosed over. He stated that he and the front seat pilot were alternating flying the takeoffs and landings. He said the front pilot was flying the accident approach to land. The pilot did not describe a typical pattern when asked. He stated there was no binding in the aircraft controls and the engine was performing normally. The airplane's operator endorsed both pilots' applications for their instructor ratings. Leading edge nicks and chordwise abrasion were found on both propeller blades. Flight control continuity was established to all control surfaces. The engine exhibited a thumb compression at all cylinders. The magnetos produced a spark when rotated by hand. Control continuity to the engine was established. An aluminum colored seat belt end from the rear seat was found detached from the fastener that secured it. That fitting's hole was found deformed and a section was torn in the radius area about that hole.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 234 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LVN at 1:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,098 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 174°F (79°C), dew point 154°F (68°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 am from LVN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.