Aeronca 7AC accident near Maple Plain, Minnesota, June 24, 1982
On June 24, 1982, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N84554, was substantially damaged in an accident near Maple Plain, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1982
- Place
- Maple Plain, Minnesota
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N84554 · registry record · serial 7AC-3254
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE CIRCLED THE FARM AREA SEVERAL TIMES TO FIND A SUITABLE LANDING SITE. HE DECIDED ON A PORTION OF THE FARMER'S FIELD NEXT TO THE HOUSE AND MADE A FINAL PASS TO INSPECT THE AREA. DURING THE PASS, HE SAW SOME TREES AND REPORTEDLY DECIDED TO GO AROUND. HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE (FROM GLIDE POWER). BUT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND QUIT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE INITIATED A STALL TO AVOID THE ONCOMING OBSTRUCTIONS (HOUSE AND TREES). THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 82 AND 51 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO THE ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, CONDITIONS AT THESE TEMPERATURES WOULD BE CONDUCIVE TO SERIOUS CARBURETOR ICING WHEN THE POWER WAS AT IDLE. THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION. A BLOOD/ALCOHOL TEST SHOWED THAT THE PILOT'S ETHANOL CONTENT WAS 221 MG/DL. THE PILOT'S LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DATED 4/4/80. IT HAD BEEN ISSUED WITH A RESTRICTION (A SPECIAL PANEL EXEMPTION) AFTER HE HAD BEEN TREATED FOR ALCOHOLISM. THE CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED FOR ONLY 6 MONTHS.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 7,366 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,612 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Maple Plain MN at 6:45 pm
- Destination: Maple Plain MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 180°F (82°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.