Aeronca 7DC accident near Elk River, Idaho, June 29, 2008
On June 29, 2008 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Aeronca 7DC, registered N83056, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Elk River, Idaho (Private 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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2008 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elk River, Idaho · Private Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7DC · all 7DCs on the register
- Registration
- N83056 · registry record · serial 7AC-1712
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to take off from a gravel runway that was lined on both sides with tall grass. During the takeoff roll, the airplane drifted to the left into the grass, and the pilot corrected his course back toward the runway. The airplane then drifted into the grass on the right side, hit a wire fence and a dirt berm, and nosed over. The pilot said that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the attempted takeoff.
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 takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › (general) › Not specified
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,998 hours in all; 119 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,320 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2008
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dewpoint Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Elk River ID
- Destination: KDEW Deer Park WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:53 am from PUW, 39 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.