Aeronca 7AC accident near Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, March 7, 2010
On March 7, 2010 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N84694, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina (Halifax-Northampton Regional airport). It was a personal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing/rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 2010 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina · Halifax-Northampton Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC NO SERIES · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N84694 · registry record · serial 3406
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on runway 2, with an 8-knot crosswind. During the landing roll, the airplane’s left wing lifted and the right wing and propeller contacted the ground. The pilot applied engine power and attempted to regain control; however, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and struck a dirt bank. The right wing, right main landing gear and right wing strut were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane prior to the accident. A weather observation taken at the airport about the time of the accident reported winds from 300 degrees at 4 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 280 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 6, 2008
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,037 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 2009; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IXA Roanoke Rapids NC at 7:00 pm
- Destination: IXA Roanoke Rapids NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from IXA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA10CA168.