Aeronca 7BCM accident near Santa Paula, California, February 25, 1994
On February 25, 1994 at about 1:20 am local time, a Aeronca 7BCM, registered N6434C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Paula, California (Santa Paula airport). It was an instructional 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 existing meteorological conditions that were conducive to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1994 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Santa Paula, California · Santa Paula · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7BCM · all 7BCMs on the register
- Registration
- N6434C · registry record · serial 7BCM-41
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI WAS ADMINISTERING A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW TO THE PRIVATE PILOT. AFTER PERFORMING SOME MANEUVERS AT THE PRACTICE AREA, THE FLIGHT RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND EXECUTED A TOUCH AND GO LANDING AND TAKEOFF. AFTER THE INITIAL LANDING, THE PRIVATE PILOT CLOSED THE CARBURETOR HEAT AND APPLIED FULL POWER. THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE CFI ASSUMED THE CONTROLS AND LANDED ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE CFI INTENTIONALLY GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE TO PREVENT IT FROM COLLIDING WITH A DITCH AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TWO VEHICLES DURING THE GROUND LOOP. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY ENGINE PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. THE METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,986 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,841 as pilot in command; 1,100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,640 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 1993; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,271 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SZP at 4:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,600 ft by 45 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.