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Accidents · NTSB SEA91LA162 · Final report

Aeronca 65-CA accident near West Jordan, Utah, July 7, 1991

On July 7, 1991 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 65-CA, registered N36831, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Jordan, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

THE PILOT'S DELAYED SWITCHING OF THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR, THE ENGINE FAILURE FROM FUEL STARVATION AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
July 7, 1991 · about 7:00 pm local time
Place
West Jordan, Utah · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Aeronca 65-CA · all 65-CAs on the register
Registration
N36831 · no longer on the register · serial 17671
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT A LOW ALTITUDE THE PILOT EXHAUSTED ONE FUEL TANK AND SWITCHED TO ANOTHER TANK. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART PRIOR TO MAKING A FORCED LANDING WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FROM A COLLISION WITH THE GROUND DURING THE LANDING ROLL.

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: 348 hours in all; 323 in this make and model; 326 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
  • Seat: unk

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: 42U Morgan UT at 6:10 pm
  • Destination: UT29 Tooele UT
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 50 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers1

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.