Aeronca 7AC accident near Smoketown, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1995
On July 3, 1995 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N82773, was substantially damaged in an accident near Smoketown, Pennsylvania (Smoketown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to follow the recommended starting procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1995 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Smoketown, Pennsylvania · Smoketown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N82773 · registry record · serial 7AC-1420
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REMOVED THE AIRPLANE FROM A HANGER AND HAD HIS WIFE SIT IN THE FRONT SEAT. HE PROCEEDED TO SET THE CONTROLS FOR AN ENGINE START. HOWEVER, HE SAID HE OVERLOOKED THE THROTTLE, WHICH WAS IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION FROM THE PREVIOUS SHUT DOWN. THE PILOT HAD NOT BRIEFED HIS WIFE ON THE USE OF THE THROTTLE OR BRAKES. HE THEN HAND PROPPED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STARTED AND WENT TO FULL POWER. THE AIRPLANE THEN TRAVELED ACROSS THE RAMP AND COLLIDED WITH A PARKED AIRPLANE.
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: 991 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 829 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,204 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 22, 1994; 29 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: 37PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.