On March 30, 1985, an Aeronca 7AC (registration N84303) was involved in an aviation accident near Key Largo, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to continue flight with insufficient fuel, resulting in fuel exhaustion and total loss of engine power. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft departed Tavernaro Airport with low fuel, performed touch-and-go landings at Port Largo, and experienced an engine failure approximately six miles northeast of the airport due to fuel exhaustion.
What happened
The aircraft departed Tavernaro Airport carrying an estimated three to four gallons of fuel on board. The flight proceeded northeast toward Port Largo Airport. Upon arrival, the pilot executed two touch-and-go landings before departing the traffic pattern. Approximately six miles northeast of Port Largo Airport, the engine began running rough and subsequently quit. All attempts by the pilot to restart the engine were unsuccessful.
The investigation
A post-crash examination of the aircraft was conducted along with functional testing of the engine. These inspections revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction that would have caused the engine stoppage.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to continue flight with insufficient fuel, resulting in fuel exhaustion and total loss of engine power.