Aeronca 7FC accident near Phoenix, Arizona, September 17, 1991
On September 17, 1991 at about 8:46 pm local time, a Aeronca 7FC, registered N7550E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Deer Valley 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
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES AND RUDDER AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE'S MAKE AND MODEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1991 · about 8:46 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Deer Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7FC · all 7FCs on the register
- Registration
- N7550E · no longer on the register · serial 252
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC, A CERTIFIED FLT INSTRUCTOR (CFI)/COMMERCIAL PILOT, REPORTED THE LANDING ON THE 8,200 FT BY 100 FT ASPHALT SURFACED RUNWAY WAS NORMAL. DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT AND THAT HE APPLIED LEFT RUDDER TO COMPENSATE FOR THE DRIFT. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A LEFT SKID AND AT THIS TIME HE APPLIED OPPOSITE RUDDER BUT TO NO AVAIL AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED AND EXITED THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT. THE OPERATOR REPORTED SKID MARKS WERE EVIDENT ON THE RUNWAY EXTENDING ABOUT 150 FT FROM THE AIRPLANE RESTING POINT ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY'S HIGH SPEED TURNOFF.
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; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 381 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,550 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 6, 1991; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: Peoria AZ at 8:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 8,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:46 pm from DVT, 1 miles away
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.