Aeronca 7EC and Stinson L5 accident near St. Charles, Missouri, July 10, 1988
On July 10, 1988 at about 11:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Aeronca 7EC (N82994) and Stinson L5 (N2582B), were involved in the same accident near St. Charles, Missouri (Smart Field). No one was hurt; 4 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
- July 10, 1988 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- St. Charles, Missouri · Smart Field · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Aeronca 7EC · all 7ECs on the register
- Registration
- N82994 · registry record · serial 7AC 1646
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Stinson L5 · all L5s on the register
- Registration
- N2582B · registry record · serial 120466
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Aeronca 7EC final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID, WHILE TAXIING IN FROM A PERSONAL FLT, HE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT THAT WAS TAXIING OUT FOR DEPARTURE. THE PLT SAID WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE CONVERGING AIRCRAFT DID NOT SEE HIM, HE TRIED TO TURN OFF THE TAXIWAY, BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Stinson L5 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID HE WAS TAXIING OUT FOR DEPARTURE, WHEN HE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT THAT WAS TAXIING IN FROM A LOCAL FLIGHT. HE SAID HE WAS INTENDING TO MAKE AN INTERSECTION TAKEOFF AND FAILED TO SEE THE INCOMING AIRCRAFT IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION.
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 for the Aeronca 7EC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 709 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 656 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,711 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 20, 1988; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from STL, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Stinson L5 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,455 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 1,083 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,440 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 1988; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-435-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,900 ft by 75 ft
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.