Aeronca 7BCM accident near Bolivar, Tennessee, June 19, 2010
On June 19, 2010 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 7BCM, registered N2553B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Bolivar, Tennessee (William L. Whtehurst Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2010 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bolivar, Tennessee · William L. Whtehurst Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7BCM · all 7BCMs on the register
- Registration
- N2553B · registry record · serial 7BCM-353
- 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 on runway 19, a 5,000-foot-long, 75-foot-wide asphalt runway, when the airplane encountered a sudden gust of wind. The airplane veered 90 degrees to the right, struck a runway light located about 2,000 feet from the approach end of the runway and a chain-link fence, before coming to rest in a wooded area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported 631 hours of total flight experience, which included 30 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane, and 2 hours during the 30 days preceding the accident. He also stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems during the flight. Winds reported at an airport located about 25 miles north of the accident site, about the time of the accident, were variable at 3 knots. The pilot estimated the winds at the time of the accident were from 200 degrees at 5 knots, gusting to 20 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 defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 631 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors C85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2M2 Lawrenceburg TN at 2:30 pm
- Destination: M08 Bolivar TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from MKL, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 ERA10CA321.