# Accident 20250401003819A: Aeronca 7AC, Martinsville, VA, April 1, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 1, 2025, 10:05 local time
- Place: Martinsville, VA
- Airport: Blue Ridge
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.6358° N, 80.0299° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6358&lon=-80.0299&mi=10
- Aircraft: N84065, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84065-2026-05-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca 7AC (registry code 2110102, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,874 total, 900 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA161) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250401003819A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA25LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA161), Apr 1, 2025: Aeronca 7AC (N84065), Martinsville, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot inadvertently turned off the fuel selector valve on takeoff which resulted in a loss of engine power.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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