Aeronca 7BCM accident near Doylestown, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1990
On July 15, 1990 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Aeronca 7BCM, registered N2089A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Doylestown, Pennsylvania. 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
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO AN INOPERABLE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL. LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1990 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Doylestown, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7BCM · all 7BCMs on the register
- Registration
- N2089A · registry record · serial 7BCM 144
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BEGAN LOSING ENGINE POWER WHILE RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT AFTER A 35-40 MINUTE PLEASURE FLIGHT AND WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE THE REMAINING TWO MILES FOR LANDING. HE STALLED THE AIRPLANE INTO TREES. THE AIRPLANE DROPPED ABOUT 50 FEET, STOPPING 20-25 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION. THE CARBURETOR HEAT CABLE WAS FOUND PULLED OUT AND THE CARBURETOR AIR BOX VALVE WAS FROZEN IN THE COLD POSITION.
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: 304 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 304 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,073 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 1989; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8N9 Warrington PA at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.