Aeronca 7DC accident near Fulton, Kentucky, June 15, 2001
On June 15, 2001, a Aeronca 7DC, registered N82562, was destroyed in an accident near Fulton, Kentucky. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin to the ground. A factor was the pilot's decision to fly from the rear seat, which reduced his visibility of critical flight instruments, including the airspeed indicator.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2001
- Place
- Fulton, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7DC · all 7DCs on the register
- Registration
- N82562 · no longer on the register · serial 7AC-1199
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was giving rides to some guests at his residence. He completed two trips without incident. However, on the third flight, after takeoff, and about a mile from the runway, he initiated a turn to the left. The angle of bank continued to increase until the wings were nearly vertical, and the nose dropped below the horizon. The airplane disappeared from view behind a tree line, as it was descending nose-down and turning to the left. Impact damage on the leading edges of both wings was consistent with a left rotation at impact. Fuel was found in the carburetor, and the metal leading edges of both wooden propeller blades were bent rearward. No evidence of a pre-existing mechanical failure or malfunction was found. The pilot was seated in the rear seat. All flight and engine instrument were located in front of the front seat occupant only.
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: recreational
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 373 hours in all; 357 in this make and model; 339 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 19, 1993
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,580.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 2000; 14.0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Fulton KY
- Destination: NONE Fulton KY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from PAH, 33 miles away
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.