Aeronca 7BCM accident near Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, August 3, 2022
On August 3, 2022 at about 7:18 pm local time, a 1947 Aeronca 7BCM, registered N9325H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania (Eakin 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots’ failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2022 · about 7:18 pm local time
- Place
- Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania · Eakin Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7BCM, built 1947 · all 7BCMs on the register
- Registration
- N9325H · registry record · serial 47-807
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner reported that the pilot rated passenger, who had not previously flown in nearly 25 years, was attempting to land the tailwheel-equipped airplane. Upon touchdown, the airplane began to drift to the left. The pilot/owner attempted to correct but was unable. The airplane subsequently impacted trees resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and aft fuselage structure. The pilot/owner further described that “there was a gust of wind that got the better of him” in reference to the pilot rated passenger. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Passenger
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 29,000 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 24,000 as pilot in command; 2,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 30, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,360 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12 (piston); 1,000 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PJC Zelienople PA at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from FKL, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFKL 031756Z AUTO VRB06G14KT 10SM CLR 29/20 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP156 T02890200 10294 20167 58014 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 27, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statements | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N9325H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.