# NTSB WPR26FA355: Aeronca 7AC, N12DF, Hesperia, CA, September 24, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Investigation open
- Date: September 24, 2026, 09:53 local (16:53 UTC)
- Place: Hesperia, CA
- Location: 34.4264° N, 117.3009° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hesperia, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4264&lon=-117.3009&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203867
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26FA355
- Latest NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203867/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA355

## Sequence of events

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

- [Unknown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12DF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N12DF), registered now, S/N 7AC-5050, 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)
- Flight: Personal, Part 91

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 6 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Observed at: 13 nm away

## Other investigations on N12DF (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 WPR14CA332](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA332), Aug 8, 2014: Aeronca 7AC (N12DF), Apple Valley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to adequately secure the airplane while hand-starting the engine.

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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