# NTSB WPR26LA250: Aeronca 7AC, N1097E, Buffalo, WY, July 7, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Investigation open
- Date: July 7, 2026, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Buffalo, WY
- Coordinates: 44.378411, -106.7181 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3784&lon=-106.7181&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203354
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA250
- Latest NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203354/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA250

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1097E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1097E), registered now, S/N 7AC-4629, 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-4629
- Year built: 1946
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: BYG

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: KBYG
- METAR: METAR KBYG 071953Z AUTO 03004KT 10SM CLR 26/12 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP133 T02610117

## 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 20260707008519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260707008519A), Jul 7, 2026: Champion 7AC, Buffalo, WY, Substantial damage. Pilot didn't check for high density altitude before takeoff and aircraft would not fly in thoses conditions

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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