Aeronca 7BCM accident near Rochester, Wisconsin, June 8, 2016
On June 8, 2016 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1946 Aeronca 7BCM, registered N1127N, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Rochester, Wisconsin (Fox River 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 directional control during the landing, which resulted in a runway excursion, left main landing gear collapse, and a nose down. Contributing to the accident was the wind shift.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2016 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rochester, Wisconsin · Fox River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7BCM NO SERIES, built 1946 · all 7BCMs on the register
- Registration
- N1127N · registry record · serial 7BCM-88
- 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 during the landing touchdown in quartering tailwind conditions the airplane veered to the right, he corrected with full left rudder, and advanced the throttle to full forward. The pilot further reported that the increase in power appeared to exacerbate the situation, so he reduced the power, and applied left brake to arrest the veer. According to the pilot the airplane continued to veer to the right, the right main landing gear lifted off the runway, and the left wing impacted the ground. The pilot further reported that the airplane veered off the runway to the right, began to porpoise due to the rough terrain, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the nose of the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to left wing. According to the pilot, there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located about 4 miles south west of the airport, revealed that about 15 minutes before the accident the wind was 280 degrees true at 6 knots. A further review revealed that, about 5 minutes after the accident the wind was 300 degrees true at 12 knots, and wind gust 15 knots. The airplane landed on runway 19.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
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 › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 289 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 266 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 16, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,682.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 4,729 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7WI5 Brooklyn WI at 5:22 pm
- Destination: 96C Rochester WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,500 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from KBUU, 4 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.