Aeronca 7AC accident near Old Bridge, New Jersey, May 8, 1983
On May 8, 1983 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N8550E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Old Bridge, New Jersey (Werner airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- May 8, 1983 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Old Bridge, New Jersey · Werner
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N8550E · registry record · serial 7AC330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER THE PLT RETURNED FROM A LOCAL FLT, HE REPORTEDLY ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND & LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE & THEN NOSED OVER. APRX 25 MI WEST AT TRENTON, NJ, THE 2050 EDT WIND WAS REPORTED FROM 220 DEG AT 15, GUSTING 22 KTS.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,867 hours in all; 8 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 1,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.