20250401003819A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Aeronca 7AC · Martinsville, VA · April 1, 2025

Date: April 1, 2025 · 10:05 local
Place: Martinsville, VA
Airport: Blue Ridge
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N84065
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA25LA161
Reported as: Aeronca 7AC
Reported engine: Continental A&C65 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 5,874 total900 in this make and model16 in the last 90 days

N84065Registration cancelled May 16, 2026 · Aeronca 7ACS/N 7AC-2752 Airframe modelAeronca 7AC Engine modelContinental A&C65 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

At approximately 500 AGL on climb out the engine suddenly stopped. The pilot stated that he dropped his hand-held radio and accidentally turned off the fuel selector with his arm. When the engine stopped, the pilot attempted a 180 degree turn back to the departure runway. The aircraft impacted terrain short of the runway.

As the FAA filed it

AT APPROXIMATELY 500 AGL ON CLIMB OUT THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DROPPED HIS HAND-HELD RADIO AND ACCIDENTALLY TURNED OFF THE FUEL SELECTOR WITH HIS ARM. WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TO THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA25LA161Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMartinsville, VAThe pilot inadvertently turned off the fuel selector valve on takeoff which resulted in a loss of engine power.Apr 1, 2025 · Substantial damage