Aeronca 7AC accident near New Smyrna Bch, Florida, September 3, 1985
On September 3, 1985 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N84046, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Smyrna Bch, Florida (New Smyrna Beach 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 1985 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- New Smyrna Bch, Florida · New Smyrna Beach
- 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
- N84046 · registry record · serial 7AC2733
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED TO THE LEFT ON LANDING AS THE TAILWHEELCONTACTED THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH AN EMBANKMENT SHEARING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE TAILWHEEL STEERING ENTERING ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT IT HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY ADLUSTED/INSTALLED WHICH LEFT THE TAILWHEEL LOCKED IN SUCH A MANNER SO AS TO PRODUCED A SWERVING MOMENT WHEN THE TAIL WHEEL CONTACTED THE RUNWAY.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 12,961 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 224 in the last 90 days; 88 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,909 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 27, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X26 Sebastian FL at 8:20 pm
- Destination: 34J New Smyrna Bch FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:49 pm from DAB, 12 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.