# Accident 19980331005289A: Bbavia 7DC, Wright, WY, March 31, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 31, 1998, 11:00 local time
- Place: Wright, WY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.7498° N, 105.4907° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7498&lon=-105.4907&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4484E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4484E-2011-04-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca 7DC (registry code 2110116, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7dc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BBAVIA 7DC
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 874 total, 250 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA169) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980331005289A

## Narrative

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

CRUISING 100FT AGL ENGINE QUIT. FORCE LANDED IN FIELD. DRAINED WATER IN FUEL HIT SNOW DEPARTING. VEERED INTO ROCKS. (.4)AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS OF FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN CRUISE AT 100 FEET AGL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER.  THE PILOT LANDED IN A FIELD AND DRAINED WATER FROM THE FUEL.  WHEN HE GOT THE ENGINE RESTARTED, HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF, AND DURING HIS TAKEOFF ROLL THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ENTERED A SNOW-COVERED AREA AND THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED INTO ROCKS.  THE PILOT SAID THAT BETWEEN FLIGHTS HE STORED THE AIRCRAFT WITH PARTIALLY FILLED TANKS IN AN AREA WITH HIGH TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS OVER A 24-HOUR PERIOD.  THIS PRACTICE ENHANCES DISTILLATION OF WATER IN THE TANKS DUE TO CONDENSATION.                  (-23)THE PILOT STATED, THE FLIGHT WAS IN CURISE AT ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE GOUND LEVEL (AGL) WHEN THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER.  THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN THE FIELD AND DRAINED WATER FROM THE FUEL.  AFTER HE GOT THE ENGINE RESTARTED, HE ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM THE FIELD AND HIS MAIN LANDING GEAR ENTERED A SNOW COVERED AREA WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO SWERVE INTO ROCKS.

## 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 FTW98LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA169), Mar 31, 1998: Aeronca 7DC (N4484E), Wright, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's use of unsuitable terrain for takeoff. Factors were snow and rock covered terrain, inadequate aircraft preflight, improper aircraft servicing, and the fuel contaminated by water.

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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