Aeronca 7CCM accident near Carson, North Dakota, April 9, 1997
On April 9, 1997 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Aeronca 7CCM, registered N85257, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carson, North Dakota. It was a business 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
a loss of engine power due to ice in the fuel line. A factor was inadequate maintenance and inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 1997 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Carson, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7CCM · all 7CCMs on the register
- Registration
- N85257 · registry record · serial 7AC-3991
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had fueled the airplane with auto gas 1 1/2 weeks prior to the accident. The tanks were 3/4 full on the day of the accident, and the temperature at the time of departure was 19 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot climbed to 150 feet to 200 feet AGL in order look for some cows. He had been flying for about 25 minutes when the engine RPM dropped by 300 RPM. He shoved the throttle full in but the engine did not respond. He pulled the carburetor heat on and the engine RPM decreased by another 200 RPM. The pilot turned toward a stubble field. The airplane was still losing altitude. He tried to 'get the RPM's up,' but was unable to regain engine RPM. The pilot reported that a wind gust might have 'caught me and pulled me to the ground.' The airplane impacted the ground. The spark plugs were removed and were found to be worn and carbon fouled. The air intake filter was grimy. The fuel line to the carburetor had a small ice pellet formation around 1/5 the circumference of the metal neck where it flared into the carburetor B-nut. The aircraft had not received an annual maintenance inspection.
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
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from BIS, 54 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.