# NTSB CEN25LA186: Aeronca 7AC, N2659E, Westphalia, MI, May 24, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: May 24, 2025, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Westphalia, MI
- Coordinates: 42.91156, -84.674864 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9116&lon=-84.6749&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, East Michigan FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200215
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA186
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200215/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA186

## Preliminary report

On May 24, 2025, at 1300 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N2659E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Westphalia, Michigan. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he flew to Forest Hill Airport, Westphalia, Michigan, where he performed a full stop landing and taxied back on the runway for takeoff. The subsequent takeoff was normal until the airplane climbed to 100 ft above ground level, at which time the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field where the airplane touched down and nosed over due to muddy field conditions. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The airplane was retained from further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2659E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2659E-2025-11-29), registration cancelled 2025-11-29, S/N 7AC-6241 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC-6241
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 5641.89
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Other
- Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 2025
- Airport: 3F5, Forest Hill Airport, runway 27, 2,070 × 80 ft, grass/turf

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: LAN, 9 nm away

## Other investigations on N2659E (3)

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 WPR11LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA131), Feb 10, 2011: Aeronca 7AC (N2659E), Novato, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's use of a non-vented fuel cap, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB OAK77DVG32](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK77DVG32), Apr 30, 1977: Aeronca 7AC (N2659E), Colusa, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK68X0145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK68X0145), Jun 2, 1968: Aeronca 7AC (N2659E), Sutcliffe, NV, substantial damage

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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