Aeronca 7AC accident near Lehi, Arkansas, June 7, 1982
On June 7, 1982, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N83654, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lehi, Arkansas (West Memphis airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1982
- Place
- Lehi, Arkansas · West Memphis
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N83654 · no longer on the register · serial 7AC-2332
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE DEPARTED THE WEST MEMPHIS ARPT AT APPROXIMATELY 1900. THE ACFT WAS FOUND AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 IN AN OPEN FIELD 2 MI SW OF THE ARPT. THE ACFT HAD COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND VERY HARD IN A NOSE DOWN CONDITION. NEITHER OCCUPANT POSSESSED A PILOT CERTIFICATE ALTHOUGH THE PLT IN THE FRONT SEAT WAS ISSUED A 3RD CLASS MEDICAL/STUDENTPLT CERTIFICATE ON 3/23/76. HE HAD ALSO RECENTLY PURCHASED THE ACFT ON 4/7/82. THE PLT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 179 MG% & THE PASSENGER'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 83 MG%.
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
Pilot
- Medical certificate: Unknown (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,378 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: West Memphis AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.