Aeronca 7AC accident near Homestead, Florida, July 27, 1989
On July 27, 1989 at about 11:15 am local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N60FU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Homestead, Florida. 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
IMPROPER REPAIR OF THE FUEL CAP (SEAL) BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A BLOCKED FUEL SYSTEM (CAP) VENT AND SUBSEQUENT FUEL STARVATION, AND HIS FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE TELEPHONE LINE. THE TELEPHONE (TRANSMISSION) LINE WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1989 · about 11:15 am local time
- Place
- Homestead, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N60FU · registry record · serial 7AC-2432
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE PLT WAS RETURNING TO LAND AT HIS AIRSTRIP, THE ENG LOST POWER FROM FUEL STARVATION. SUBSEQUENTLY, DURING AN APCH FOR A FORCED LNDG, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE LINE, THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND. THE PLT STATED THAT BEFORE THE FLT, HE HAD REPLACED THE FUEL CAP SEAL. WHEN THE FUEL CAP WAS REMOVED AFTER THE ACDNT TO CHECK FOR FUEL, A RUSH OF AIR WAS NOTED (INDICATING THAT DRG FLT, THE FUEL TANK HAD NOT VENTED THRU THE CAP, AS REQUIRED).
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 33,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6X6 Homestead FL at 10:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:44 am from TMB, 13 miles away
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.