Accident Overview
On April 10, 2025, at 0904 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC airplane, registration N83952, was substantially damaged when it collided with high-voltage powerlines near Cape Fair, Missouri. The pilot received serious injuries, and the passenger was fatally injured. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight Data
Data retrieved from a Stratus GPS receiver recovered from the wreckage indicated that the flight originated from the pilot’s private grass airstrip at 0842. The airplane subsequently flew in a non-descript pattern typical of a pleasure flight. The data showed the airplane approached the accident area from the south, made a right turn toward the southeast, immediately followed by a left turn to the southwest. During the latter part of the left turn, the airplane began descending, leveled off, and flew down a valley. High-voltage powerlines crossed the valley perpendicular to the airplane’s flight path. The utility company later spliced two damaged wires, but the wires had not fallen to the ground.
Witness Account
A witness, who was a friend of the pilot and passenger and was constructing a pond on his property, reported that he was operating an excavator when he observed the airplane fly overhead. He stated that the airplane then departed the area, but a few minutes later he heard it again and, from his peripheral vision, saw the airplane crash. The airplane came to rest on the witness’s property directly beneath the powerlines that had been struck.
Examination Findings
Examination of the airframe at the accident site confirmed continuity of the flight control system from the cockpit controls to each respective control surface. The engine was examined and found to exhibit crankshaft rotation without difficulty. Cylinder compression, suction, and valve train continuity were verified during rotation. Although spark could not be obtained at the spark plugs due to impact damage to the spark plug leads, spark was observed for all cylinders on both magnetos when the leads were trimmed at the distributor caps. The carburetor was removed, and fuel was present in the fuel bowl; no sediment was observed. No preimpact anomalies were detected during the examination of the engine or the airframe.