Aeronca 7EC accident near Moore Haven, Florida, September 29, 1991
On September 29, 1991 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Aeronca 7EC, registered N4713E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moore Haven, Florida. It was a personal 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 DIVERSION OF ATTENTION AND INATTENTION TO THE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN THE INADVERTENT STALL MUSH. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO RECOVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1991 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Moore Haven, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7EC · all 7ECs on the register
- Registration
- N4713E · no longer on the register · serial 73C-57
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT BECAME DISTRACTED WHILE HELPING THE PASSENGER SPOT ALLIGATORS AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VS) RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL MUSH. HE INITIATED A RECOVERY BUT DUE TO THE LOW ALTITUDE, WAS UNABLE, BEFORE THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLIDED WITH AN OBJECT IN THE WATER.
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: student
- Flight time: 137 hours in all; 137 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 114 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 27, 1990; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X53 Clewiston FL at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.