Aeronca 7AC accident near Greensburg, Kentucky, July 19, 2008
On July 19, 2008 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N3624E, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Greensburg, Kentucky. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the low altitude maneuvers.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2008 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Greensburg, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N3624E · no longer on the register · serial 7AC-6952
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had been giving airplane rides all day. He flew around mountain ridges and would swoop down over a cornfield. Regarding the accident flight, he stated, "I guess I just wasn't paying attention and hit the trees." The pilot was asked if the airplane had experienced any problems. The pilot stated no, the airplane was running fine, and he "just messed up and didn't realize how close I was to the trees, I was looking at the cornfield, you know, lining up with it and just didn't see the trees, I had flown that same route all day and guess I just got sloppy."
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
What happened, in order
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2008; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A&C65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Greensburg KY at 5:50 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 5:58 pm from GLW, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.