Aeronca 7AC accident near East Sound, Washington, March 10, 1986
On March 10, 1986 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N84842, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Sound, Washington (Orcas Island 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
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
- March 10, 1986 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- East Sound, Washington · Orcas Island · 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
- N84842 · registry record · serial 3560
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON ROLLOUT, A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OCCURRED DURING A WIND GUST. THE PILOT ELECTED TO GO-AROUND. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT OFF, THE MAIN GEAR OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK VASI LIGHTS. THE AIRCRAFT THEN STRUCK THE GROUND.
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: 152 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 88 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,560 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 4, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S43 Snohomish WA at 9:45 pm
- Destination: S17 East Sound WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.