Aeronca 7CCM accident near Prentiss, Mississippi, July 5, 2014
On July 5, 2014 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1946 Aeronca 7CCM, registered N82442, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Prentiss, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident engine examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2014 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Prentiss, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7CCM, built 1946 · all 7CCMs on the register
- Registration
- N82442 · no longer on the register · serial 7AC-1075
- 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 the airplane departed on a planned 20-minute flight with 9 gallons of gasoline on board. Toward the end of the flight, the engine suddenly lost all power without warning. He switched from the header fuel tank to the right main fuel tank and set up for a forced landing to a hayfield. Just before landing, the engine regained power for about 3 seconds and then again lost all power. The momentary gain in power placed the airplane on a high glidepath for the hayfield. The pilot did not want to risk landing in the surrounding trees, and the airplane stalled as he was maneuvering to land in the hayfield. Examination of the wreckage revealed that adequate fuel remained onboard. Examination of the engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The propeller was able to be rotated by hand, and thumb compression was attained on all cylinders. Although the recorded temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power, the engine was at cruise power when the power loss occurred. The pilot could not locate the aircraft logbooks, but a mechanic stated that an annual inspection had been completed about 1 year before the accident.
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 engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M43 Prentiss MS at 2:30 pm
- Destination: NONE Collins MS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from PIB, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.