Aeronca 7AC accident near Walla Walla, Washington, May 18, 1993
On May 18, 1993 at about 7:43 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N81829, was substantially damaged in an accident near Walla Walla, Washington (Walla Walla Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PREMATURE LANDING FLARE BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ABOVE STALL SPEED DURING THE BALKED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1993 · about 7:43 pm local time
- Place
- Walla Walla, Washington · Walla Walla Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N81829 · registry record · serial 452
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FLARED PREMATURELY, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING WHICH DAMAGED THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY AND LED TO LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LANDING, THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A RUNWAY LIGHT, STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.
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: 165 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,613 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 17, 1992; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 7,188 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 13,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.