Aeronca 7AC accident near Auburn, Washington, June 21, 2022
On June 21, 2022 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1946 Aeronca 7AC, registered N82579, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Auburn, Washington (Auburn Muni airport). It was an instructional 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's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2022 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, Washington · Auburn Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC, built 1946 · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N82579 · registry record · serial 7AC-1216
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane owner/pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane had not been flying often and hired the flight instructor to help her regain proficiency. This was their fourth flight together and they planned to perform touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings. The flight instructor reported that, on the third landing, the airplane touched down at a slightly-lower than desired speed. The airplane then swerved left as it decreased in speed and he instructed her to maintain the runway centerline. The airplane subsequently ground-looped to the left and impacted a runway sign. The flight instructor stated that it was too late for him to take over control of the airplane. The airplane’s right wing was substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 623 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 535 as pilot in command; 164 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 5, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: S50 Auburn WA at 10:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,842 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KSEA, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSEA 211953Z 27008KT 10SM FEW010 SCT080 BKN150 BKN250 21/12 A3031 RMK AO2 SLP268 T02060117=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 11, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo of Damage (Provided by Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.