Aeronca 7AC accident near Plano, Texas, July 20, 1986
On July 20, 1986 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N83847, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plano, Texas (Plano airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- July 20, 1986 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Plano, Texas · Plano · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N83847 · no longer on the register · serial 7AC-2528
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TRIED TWICE TO ROTATE THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT LIFTED OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY. AT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED VEERING TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE RUNWAY IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, STALLED AND NOSED DOWN IMPACTING THE GROUND. PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT A WITNESS OBSERVED TWO HEAVY SET MEN (APRX 250 LBS. EACH) ENTER THE AIRCRAFT. THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT IS 1220 LBS. EMPTY WEIGHT IS 800 LBS. COMBINED WEIGHT OF BOTH FUEL AND OIL IS APRX 108 LBS. TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT AT TAKEOFF WAS APRX 1,408 LBS., OR 188 LBS. OVER GROSS WEIGHT.
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
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 760 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:47 pm from ADS, 10 miles away
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.