Aeronca 7AC accident near Umpqua, Oregon, March 19, 1988
On March 19, 1988 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N81788, was destroyed in an accident near Umpqua, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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 19, 1988 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Umpqua, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N81788 · no longer on the register · serial 7AC-411
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING LOW OVER A RIVER THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK UNMARKED TELEPHONE WIRES. AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING WAS MADE ONTO A COW PASTURE. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND NOSE FIRST. POST ACC INSPECTION REVEALED TELEPHONE WIRE INSULATION WEDGED NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE CARBURETOR AIR CLEANER. THE TELEPHONE WIRE HAD BROKEN THE CARBURETOR CASTING THAT HOLDS THE CARB TO THE INTAKE PIPES. THE PLT SAID THAT HE LOST ENG POWER. THE DAMAGE NOTED WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT OFFERED NO EXPLANATION FOR THE LOW FLYING BUT SENT HIS PLT CERT TO FAA AND SAID HE HAD VIOLATED FAR'S. HIS RECOMMENDATION FOR PREVENTION WAS TO AVOID LOW FLYING.
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: 1,207 hours in all; 310 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,431 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5S1 Roseburg OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.
Other NTSB records under N81788 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.