Aeronca 7AC accident near Cottonwood, Arizona, April 2, 1990
On April 2, 1990 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N82805, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cottonwood, Arizona (Cottonwood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE TO THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DECISION OF THE PILOT TO ATTEMPT A LANDING IN A CROSS WIND CONDITION WELL BEYOND THE CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1990 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Cottonwood, Arizona · Cottonwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N82805 · registry record · serial 7AC-1452
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
GROUND WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT REPORTED TO FAA INSPECTORS FROM THE SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA, FSDO THAT THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A LANDING WITH A DIRECT CROSS WIND THE WITNESSES ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 30 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT NEAR THE TOUCH DOWN POINT ON THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE AIRPORT. REPEATED REQUESTS FOR THE COMPLETION OF A PILOT/OPERATOR AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT FORM MET WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE PILOT.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 2,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P52 at 8:00 pm
- Destination: P52
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,250 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 30 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.