Aeronca 7EC accident near Hudson, Wisconsin, September 22, 1995
On September 22, 1995 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Aeronca 7EC, registered N4666E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hudson, Wisconsin (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper decision to attempt a touch-and-go on a short airstrip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 1995 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hudson, Wisconsin · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7EC · all 7ECs on the register
- Registration
- N4666E · registry record · serial 7EC-14
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS PERFORMING THE TAKEOFF PHASE OF A TOUCH-AND-GO ON A 1200-FT GRASS AIRSTRIP. HE REPORTED THAT WHEN HE APPLIED FULL POWER TO TAKE OFF, THE ENGINE 'STUMBLED' BUT THEN BEGAN TO DEVELOP WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS FULL POWER. AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY STOPPING THE AIRPLANE DUE TO THE AIRSPEED AND THE DOWNSLOPING TERRAIN OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS AFRAID OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE AIRPLANE MIGHT CROSS A DITCH AND ENTER A HIGHWAY, SO HE DECIDED TO IMPACT A ROW OF TREES TO ARREST THE AIRPLANE. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES. THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY STARTED AND RUN UP TO 1200 RPM WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE PILOT'S RECOMMENDATION AS TO HOW THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED WAS: 'NO TOUCH AND GO ON A SHORT FIELD.'
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
- Flight time: 2,851 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 2,776 as pilot in command; 2,300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,218 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1995; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,200 ft by 130 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.