Aeronca 7BCM accident near Vancouver, Washington, August 15, 1998
On August 15, 1998 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 7BCM, registered N83803, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vancouver, Washington (Evergreen airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots inadequate remedial action, while attempting to recover from an inadvertent activation of the brakes, during the landing-roll. Factors include the inadvertent brake activation and the rough/uneven runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1998 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Vancouver, Washington · Evergreen · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7BCM · all 7BCMs on the register
- Registration
- N83803 · no longer on the register · serial 2481
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing roll, the aircraft encountered uneven terrain and the pilot's feet moved to a position where his heels inadvertently applied excessive braking. Because he did not correctly reposition his feet on the rudder/brake assembly, the aircraft subsequently nosed over.
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: student
- Flight time: 118 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,947 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 1998; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA7 Yelm WA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 59S Vancouver WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28L, 2,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.