Aeronca 7AC accident near Batesvile, Texas, September 13, 1987
On September 13, 1987 at about 11:21 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N84191, was substantially damaged in an accident near Batesvile, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- September 13, 1987 · about 11:21 pm local time
- Place
- Batesvile, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N84191 · no longer on the register · serial 7AC2879
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT REPORTED THE PILOT WAS 'BUZZING' PERSONNEL IN A COTTON FIELD AND ON THE THIRD PASS DID NOT PULL UP IN TIME. THE BELLY STRUCK THE GROUND WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A 'FAIRLY STEEP ANGLE OF DESCENT.' THE WITNESS STATED THE ENGINE SOUNDED VERY GOOD UNTIL THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE PILOT STATED 'WHILE TURNING LOW OVER A COTTON FIELD THAT I WAS INTERESTED IN, THE AIRPLANE STALLED WITH LOSS OF ALTITUDE AND CRASHED BEFORE IT COULD BE RECOVERED.'
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: 296 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 251 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Uvalde TX at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 7 knots, gusting 11
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.