Aeronca 7AC accident near Chandler, Arizona, January 7, 1985
On January 7, 1985 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N84096, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chandler, Arizona. 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
- January 7, 1985 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N84096 · registry record · serial 7AC-2783
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC REPORTED THE 2ND PLT WAS FLYING THE ACFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WHILE THEY WERE PRACTICING OFF ARPT LANDINGS. ON THE SECOND TAKEOFF, THE 2ND PLT EXECUTED A COURSE REVERSAL TURN TO LAND OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION OF TAKEOFF. THE INITIAL TURN WAS TO THE LEFT. AFTER COMLETING THE 90 DEG LEFT TURN AND WHILE IN THE 270 DEG RIGHT TURN THE ACFT RIGHT WING BANKED 90 DEGREES AND THE NOSE DROPPED 70 DEGREES. CONTROL INPUTS WOULD NOT ARREST THE ACFT ATTITUDE. PRIOR TO IMPACT THE PIC RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE. LIGHT VARIABLE SURFACE WINDS PREVAILED. THE PIC REPORTED A 30 DEG TEMP INVERSION AT ALTITUDE WAS EXPERIENCED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,600 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,620 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 2, 1984; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P19 Chandler AZ at 3:27 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from CHD, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.