Aeronca 7AC accident near Jacksonville, Arkansas, March 10, 1986
On March 10, 1986 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N82202, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jacksonville, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- March 10, 1986 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N82202 · registry record · serial 7AC-830
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A SOD STRIP IN AN AERONCA TAIL DRAGGER AIRCRAFT IN GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. THE AIR STRIP RUNWAY IS SITUATED ALONG A NORTH-SOUTH HEADING WITH THE RPTD WINDS FM 290 DEGREES MAGNETIC AT 13 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 18 KNOTS. AS THE TAIL ROSE INTO TAKEOFF ATTITUDE THE ACFT VEERED LEFT AND OFF THE EDGE OF THE RWY. THE PIC STATED HE WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL IN THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS WHEN THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED FM THE GROUND. THE PIC WAS INEXPERIENCED IN THIS ACFT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 180 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,364 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1985; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jacksonville AR at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:48 pm from LIT, 10 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.