# NTSB MIA85LA138: Aeronca 7AC, N84303, Key Largo, FL, March 30, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1985, 12:29 local (17:29 UTC)
- Place: Key Largo, FL
- Coordinates: 25.079965, -80.440315 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.0800&lon=-80.4403&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 case key (mKey): 31382
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31382/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA138

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT DEPARTED TAVERNARO ARPT WITH AN ESTIMATED 3 TO 4 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD & PROCEEDED NORTHEAST TO PORT LARGO ARPT, EXECUTED TWO TOUCH & GO LANDINGS, DEPARTED THE PATTERN & APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF PORT LARGO ARPT THE ENG STARTED TO RUN ROUGH & THEN QUIT, ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENG WERE TO NO AVAIL. POST CRASH EXAMINATION & FUNCTIONAL TEST OF THE ENG REVEALED NO MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N84303](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N84303), registered now, S/N 7AC-3000, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC-3000
- Airframe hours: 1950
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-75 75 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert A. Stothart
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 1985
- Departed: X43, PORT LARGO, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 11,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 165 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TMB, 35 nm away

## 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 19850330044159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850330044159A), Mar 30, 1985: Bbavia 7AC, North Key Largo, FL, Substantial damage. Engine quit and aircraft was ditched in ocean. Took off with estimated four gallons of fuel and ran out of fuel.

## Other investigations on N84303 (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 FTW72FRJ24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72FRJ24), Apr 18, 1972: Aeronca 7AC (N84303), Atlanta, TX, 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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