Aeronca 7BCM accident near Elma, Washington, April 20, 1991
On April 20, 1991 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Aeronca 7BCM, registered N81578, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elma, Washington (Elma 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 PILOT USED INADEQUATE STARTING PROCEDURES. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT DID NOT USE PROPER ASSISTANCE AND THE PASSENGER'S INADVERTENT CONTROL INTERFERENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1991 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Elma, Washington · Elma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7BCM · all 7BCMs on the register
- Registration
- N81578 · registry record · serial 7AC-197
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE BEGINNING OF A FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD PLACED CHOCKS IN FRONT OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AND RETURNED TO THE COCKPIT TO TURN ON THE FUEL. THE PILOT THEN PROCEEDED TO THE PROPELLER TO PULL THE ENGINE THROUGH. AS THE PILOT TURNED THE PROPELLER, THE ENGINE STARTED AT A HIGH RPM AND THE AIRCRAFT JUMPED THE CHOCKS. THE PILOT TRIED TO HANG ONTO THE RIGHT WING AS IT SWUNG AROUND ONCE, MISSING THE FUEL PUMPS AND A PARKED PIPER. THE AIRCRAFT CAME AROUND FOR THE SECOND TIME AND COLLIDED INTO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PIPER.
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: 192 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 116 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-9 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SHN Shelton WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.