Aeronca 7AC accident near Alexandria, Minnesota, May 31, 1989
On May 31, 1989 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N85459, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alexandria, Minnesota (Alexandria airport). 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
THAT PROPER STARTING PROCEDURES WERE NOT FOLLOWED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT TIED DOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1989 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Alexandria, Minnesota · Alexandria · 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
- N85459 · registry record · serial AC4199
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ACFT BY HAND PROPPING, THE ENGINE STARTED AND THE ACFT JUMPED THE CHOCKS. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A PARKED ACFT, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH ACFT. THE PLT SAID THAT HE MUST HAVE MISJUDGED THE THROTTLE POSITION, CAUSING THE EXCESSIVE THRUST AFTER THE ENGINE STARTED.
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: 746 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 610 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,554 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 1989; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AXN Alexandria MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:49 pm from AXN, 1 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.