Aeronca 7AC accident near Kaufman, Texas, September 8, 1998
On September 8, 1998 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N85798, was destroyed in an accident near Kaufman, Texas (Private Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude and clearance of obstructions during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1998 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kaufman, Texas · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N85798 · no longer on the register · serial 7AC-4548
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff from a 1,700 foot grass runway, the tailwheel equipped airplane struck a 3 foot high barbed wire fence that was perpendicular to the departure end of the runway. The pilot then intentionally 'turned' the airplane to avoid hitting an adjacent line of trees. As the airplane came to a stop, the pilot and passenger exited, and a fire erupted which destroyed the aircraft. The pilot reported that the winds were calm at the time of the accident and that the aircraft operated normally during a brief flight earlier in the day. A normal engine run up was performed prior to the attempted take 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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,089 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,209 as pilot in command; 95 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,666 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1997; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C65 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TRL Terrell TX at 12:00 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from TRL, 5 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.