Aeronca 7AC accident near Whitman, Nebraska, August 2, 1992
On August 2, 1992 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N84228, was substantially damaged in an accident near Whitman, Nebraska. It was a business 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
WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL AND LOW MAGNETO OUTPUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1992 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Whitman, Nebraska · 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
- N84228 · registry record · serial 7AC-2919
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING APPROACH INTO UNEVEN TERRAIN. JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT APPLIED FULL LEFT RUDDER TO POINT AWAY FROM A RISING SLOPE. THE AIRPLANE LANDED IN A BANK AND COLLAPSED THE MAIN GEAR. FUEL CONTAMINATION AND WEAK IGNITION WERE FOUND IN EXAMINING THE AIRPLANE.
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: 312 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 6, 1991; 225 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Stuart Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 10:30 pm
- Destination: 8V2 Atkinson NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from MHN, 37 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.