Aeronca 7AC accident near Gila, New Mexico, February 21, 1988
On February 21, 1988 at about 7:18 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N2359E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gila, New Mexico. It was a personal 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
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
- February 21, 1988 · about 7:18 pm local time
- Place
- Gila, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N2359E · no longer on the register · serial 7AC5956
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID THAT HE AND HIS FRIEND WERE ON A PLEASURE FLT FOLLOWING A RIVER BED WHEN HE SPOTTED SOME ELECTRICAL POWER LINES AHEAD. HE SAID THAT HE FELT THAT HE HAD ADEQUATE CLEARANCE OVER THE LINES BUT THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE STATIC LINE ABOVE THE WIRES. THE ACFT STRUCK THE UNMARKED LINE CAUSING THE PLT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE ACFT. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN AND STRUCK THE GROUND INVERTED. THE PLT SAID IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE STATIC LINES WERE MARKED WITH ORANGE BALL MARKERS. THE PASSENGER ALSO STATED THAT THE WIRES NEED TO BE MARKED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 662 hours in all; 145 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 534 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 18, 1987; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Gila NM at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.