What happened
On June 7, 2025, at approximately 1459 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, registration N1846E, was involved in an accident near Waterman, Illinois. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use. The pilot was accompanied by a passenger, a 3-year-old child.
According to witnesses, the pilot was performing a maneuver to drop a homemade parachute, constructed from a 16-ounce water bottle and a plastic grocery bag, which was suspended below a black plastic parachute. After the drop, the pilot communicated via radio that he was returning to observe the landing site. Witnesses observed the aircraft maneuvering west of the airport property when the right wing dipped and the nose entered a sudden dive. Although an increase in engine power was heard and the wings leveled, the pilot was unable to arrest the dive before the aircraft impacted the terrain.
The aircraft came to rest in a cultivated field approximately 250 feet west of the Hinkley Airport (0C2) property. The impact resulted in 1 fatality and 1 serious injury.
The investigation
Examination of the airplane, engine, and propeller at the accident site revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented the normal operation of the aircraft.