# Accident 19961013046289A: Bbavia 11AC, LA, October 13, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 13, 1996, 17:50 local time
- Place: LA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.7409° N, 93.9707° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7409&lon=-93.9707&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3818E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3818E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca 11AC (registry code 0191102, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BBAVIA 11AC
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA018) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961013046289A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 1735 CDT THE PILOT OF N3818E DEPARTED THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC AREA FOR 15 MINUTES. WHEN THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT, HE MADE A LEFT DOWNWIND ENTRY FOR RUNWAY 08. THE PILOT OF THE ULTRALIGHT DEPARTED THE SAME AIRPORT APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER N3818E AND FLEW AROUND OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. AIRCRAFT N3818E WAS FLYING ABOUT 1500 FEET ABOVE THE SURFACE AND THE ULTRALIGHT WAS ABOUT 300 TO 500 FEET ABOVE THE SURFACE. DURING THIS ENTIRE FLIGHT THE SUN WAS SLOWLY APPROACHING THE HORIZON TO THE WEST, SOUTHWEST OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. THE TWO AIRCRAFT COLLIDED IN FLIGHT AT N3818E WAS ON 1/8 MILE FINAL AT ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE TERRAIN. AFTER THE COLLISION THE TWO AIRCRAFT HUNG TOGETHER BRIEFLY. FOLLOWING SEPARATION N3818E WAS ABLE TO BE FLOWN TO A SUCCESSFUL LANDING ON THE AIRPORT WHILE THE ULTRALIGHT DESCENDED TO THE TREES AND HUNG UP ON THE TREE TOPS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE SUN APPEARS TO BE THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT. NO FURTHE ACTION IS TO BE TAKEN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (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 FTW97LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA018), Oct 13, 1996: Aeronca 11BC (N3818E), Oil City, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the pilots of both aircraft to maintain an adequate visual lookout. Factors were: different traffic pattern altitudes flown by the two pilots, and the sunglare encountered by the pilot…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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