Aeronca 7FC accident near Neenah, Wisconsin, May 11, 2002
On May 11, 2002 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Aeronca 7FC, registered N85258, was substantially damaged in an accident near Neenah, Wisconsin (Brennand airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not maintaining control of the airplane during the landing approach, and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2002 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Neenah, Wisconsin · Brennand · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7FC · all 7FCs on the register
- Registration
- N85258 · no longer on the register · serial 7FC-332
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was damaged when it impacted terrain about 200 feet short of the runway while approaching to land. The pilot said that the airplane impacted the ground about 10 yards before a row of trees. He said that he did not, "... remember anything between being on final and being pulled from the plane. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that could be determined to have existed prior to impact.
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: 80 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,071 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 2001; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 79C Neenah WI at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,450 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 12:45 pm from ATW, 6 miles away
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.