Aeronca 7AC accident near Rio Linda, California, August 4, 1989
On August 4, 1989 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N84709, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rio Linda, California (Rio Linda airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING AN ABORTED LANDING. RELATED FACTORS WERE: A FALSE AIRSPEED INDICATION, THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT, HIS IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT, HIS DIVERTED ATTENTION, AND THE FENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1989 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Linda, California · Rio Linda · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N84709 · no longer on the register · serial 7AC-3356
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT FLEW FROM SACRAMENTO TO RIO LINDA, LINCOLN, MARYSVILLE, THEN BACK TO RIO LINDA. AS HE WAS DEPG MARYSVILLE, HE NOTICED AN IMPROPER INDCN OF THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR (WHICH WAS READING TOO LOW). HE ASSUMED A BUG HAD BLOCKED THE PITOT OPENING & CONTINUED TO RIO LINDA. ON ARRIVAL, THE ACFT BOUNCED DRG AN ATTEMPTED 'WHEEL LANDING.' THE PLT BELIEVED THE AIRSPEED MAY HAVE BEEN TOO HIGH (OR TOO LOW), CAUSING THE ACFT TO BOUNCE. HE CONTINUED THE LANDING, BUT THE ACFT BOUNCEDAGAIN, SO HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND. DRG THE GO-AROUND, HE BECAME DISTRACTED BY HIS INABILITY TO LOCATE & TURN OFF THE CARBURETOR HEAT. AS HE WAS LOOKING FOR THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL, THE ACFT ANGLED OFF THE RWY TO THE RIGHT & HEADED TOWARD THE WIND TEE & A FENCE WHICH PARALLELED THE RWY. THE PLT AVOIDED THE WIND TEE, BUT THE ACFT'S RIGHT WING & TAILWHEEL STRUCK THE FENCE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,347 hours in all; 123 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 1,270 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,241 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 12, 1988; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYV Marysville CA
- Destination: Q94
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,620 ft by 42 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.