Aeronca 7DC accident near Saginaw, Texas, November 13, 2005
On November 13, 2005 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Aeronca 7DC, registered N81868, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saginaw, Texas (Hicks Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's delayed remedial action. Contributing factors were the gusty winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2005 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Saginaw, Texas · Hicks Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7DC · all 7DCs on the register
- Registration
- N81868 · registry record · serial AC-491
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot at the controls of the tailwheel-equipped airplane lost control of the vintage airplane during the takeoff roll from Runway 32. The 1,278-hour flight instructor reported that a gust of wind caused the airplane to veer to the right, and the student pilot corrected by applying left rudder, but when the gust of wind dissipated there was excessive left rudder input. The flight instructor reported that he took control of the airplane as the airplane was departing the left side of the runway to attempt to recover the airplane; however, the student pilot closed the throttle, which decreased the airplane's rudder authority. The airplane then impacted a 3-foot berm just short of the PAPI for runway 32. Wind conditions at an airport 6-nautical miles to the east of the accident site reported winds from 030 degrees at 15 knots at the approximate time of the accident. The flight instructor reported winds from 8 to 15 knots at the time of the mishap. Runway 32 was reported to be 3,740-foot long, by 60-foot wide. The flight instructor reported having accumulated 520 hours in the same make and model airplane.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,278 hours in all; 520 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,076 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,864 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2005; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T67 Saginaw TX at 9:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,740 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KAFW, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.