Aeronca 7AC accident near Sisseton, South Dakota, June 5, 1986
On June 5, 1986 at about 1:30 am local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N84693, was destroyed in an accident near Sisseton, South Dakota (Sisseton Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 5, 1986 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Sisseton, South Dakota · Sisseton Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N84693 · registry record · serial 3404
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FRONT SEAT PLT, ON HIS FIRST FLT IN THE ACFT, WAS FLYING THE ACFT. AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT ENTERED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE BECAUSE THE ELEVATOR TRIM WAS IMPROPERLY SET. THE NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE WAS CORRECTED BUT THE RIGHT DOOR ON THE ENGINE COWLING CAME OPEN DURING THE MANEUVER. THE PLT IN THE REAR COCKPIT TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT, REDUCED POWER AND ENTERED A DOWNWIND FOR A CROSS RWY. THE REAR SEAT PLT REPORTED TROUBLE SEEING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAUSE HIS VIEW WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT. THE PLT FELT THE ACFT WAS SLOW AS IT APPROACHED THE RWY AND HE ADDED PWR; HOWEVER, THE ACFT STALLED AT ABOUT 30 FT AGL, TOO LOW TO RECOVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE RT REAR FASTENER WAS WORN AND BOTH PLTS WERE AWARE OF THE CONDITION PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.
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: 432 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 399 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,434 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1985; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,300 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.