# NTSB ANC85LA108: Aeronca 7DC, N4353E, Talkeetna, AK, June 25, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 24, 1985, 19:45 local (Jun 25, 1985, 03:45 UTC)
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Coordinates: 62.449249, -149.789932 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4492&lon=-149.7899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4509
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4509/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA108

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Fire, cruise
  - fuel system - leak (cause)
  - engine assembly,other - fire
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE IN FLT, THE PLT SMELLED SMOKE. WITHIN 30 SEC, SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM AROUND THE FIREWALL & UNDER THE FLOORBOARDS. THE ACFT WAS OVER AN AIRSTRIP, SO THE PLT MADE A 360 DEG TURN & LANDED THERE. THE PLT SAID THAT HE IMMEDIATELY APPLIED BRAKES WHEN THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN 'CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER.'  HE EXITED THE ACFT BEFORE IT WAS FULLY INVOLVED IN FLAMES. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4353E (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Aeronca 7DC
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7DC-14
- Airframe hours: 2000
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Karl D. Stoltzfus
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: TKA, TALKEETNA, AK
- Destination: HOM, HOMER, AK
- Airport: Rustic Wilderness, runway 36, 2,300 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 470 total, 380 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Observed at: FAI

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850624029489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850624029489A), Jun 24, 1985: Bbavia 7DC, Talkeetna, AK, Destroyed. Fire erupted in flight. Smoke and flames around firewall and floor. Nosed over landing. Source beleived fuel leak.

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.

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