Aeronca 7AC accident near Wolf Point, Montana, February 22, 1989
On February 22, 1989 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N4627E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wolf Point, Montana. 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 FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT IN A TIMELY MANNER WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION THE PILOT MADE AFTER TAKING OFF AND FLYING THROUGH FOG DUE TO HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 1989 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wolf Point, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N4627E · registry record · serial 7DC-161
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON A PRACTICE FLIGHT NEAR HIS RANCH STRIP. THE PLT SAID HE TOOK OFF THROUGH 'LIGHT' FOG AND AFTER CRUISING FOR 20 MINUTES, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE RPM AND POWER. FULL CARBURETOR HEAT AND FULL THROTTLE FAILED TO MAINTAIN ENGINE POWER. THE PLT SAID HE SELECTED A SNOW COVERED STUBBLE FIELD FOR A FORCED LANDING AND AT TOUCHDOWN THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ENTERED 12 INCHES OF CRUSTED SNOW AND THE PLANE NOSED OVER. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION BY AN A&P MECHANIC FAILED TO REVEAL EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED LOSS OF RPM. DURING AN ENGINE RUN THE ENGINE PERFORMED NORMALLY. OUTSIDE SURFACE AIR TEMP WAS REPORTED AS ZERO DEGS F AND THE DEWPOINT WAS -4 DEGS F.
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: student
- Flight time: 32 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,214 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 25, 1988; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Nashua MT at 4:40 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.