Aeronca 7AC accident near Fowlerville, Michigan, November 17, 2015
On November 17, 2015 at about 6:47 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N84157, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Fowlerville, Michigan (Maple Grove airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in an impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 2015 · about 6:47 pm local time
- Place
- Fowlerville, Michigan · Maple Grove · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC NO SERIES · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N84157 · registry record · serial 7AC-2843
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while practicing landings in gusty wind conditions, the airplane inadvertently became airborne during the takeoff roll, the airplane descended back to the runway, and impacted terrain. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,566 hours in all; 12 in the last 90 days; 1,498 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 4, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,890 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 9, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors C85-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Fowlerville MI at 6:20 pm
- Destination: 65G Fowlerville MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 3,050 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from KOZW, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.