Aeronca 7AC accident near Horizon City, Texas, April 5, 1987
On April 5, 1987 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N85397, was destroyed in an accident near Horizon City, Texas. 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
- April 5, 1987 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Horizon City, Texas · 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
- N85397 · registry record · serial 7AC-4137
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DELAYED IN INITIATING RECOVERY FROM A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING. THEN WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED FROM IDLE TO FULL OPEN THE ENGINE HESITATED BRIEFLY AND FULL POWER WAS RESTORED TOO LATE TO RECOVER. A HARD LEFT BANK WAS INITIATED TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH A DIRT ROAD. THE ROAD WAS SLIGHTLY OVERSHOT AND THE WINGTIP IMPACTED A SAND DUNE WHICH WAS FOUR OR FIVE FEET HIGHER THAN THE SURFACE OF THE ROAD. THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO A STOP WITH THE WINGS AND MAIN LANDING GEAR PARTIALLY TORN OFF.
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: 181 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 109 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,706 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TX04 Horizon City TX at 9:35 pm
- Destination: TX04 Horizon City TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:27 pm from ELP, 15 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.