Aeronca 7AC accident near Greenfield, Indiana, July 23, 1988
On July 23, 1988 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N83430, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenfield, Indiana (Pope Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- July 23, 1988 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Greenfield, Indiana · Pope Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N83430 · registry record · serial 7AC 2097
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT FOR PURPOSE OF PRACTICING LANDINGS IN A CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRCRAFT, THE STUDENT PILOT ABRUPTLY NOSED THE AIRCRAFT TOWARD THE TURF RUNWAY. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT DID NOT TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND, COLLAPSING THE MAIN GEAR AND SKIDDING TO A HALT, NOSE DOWN, ON THE RUNWAY.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,638 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 4,463 as pilot in command; 3,880 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,661 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 1988; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from IND, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.