# Accident 19980719046409A: Bbavia 7FC, Someville, ME, July 19, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 19, 1998, 19:50 local time
- Place: Someville, ME
- Airport: Somes Pond
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Aborted (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: N7694E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7694E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Champion 7FC (registry code 21101NX, https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7fc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C90 series (registry code 17009, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BBAVIA 7FC
- Reported engine: CONT C90*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD98LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA080) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980719046409A

## Narrative

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

(.4)THE PILOT BEGAN A TAKE OFF IN HIS FLOAT PLANE FROM A POND. HE SAID THAT AS THE PLANE LIFTED OFF, HE WAS BLINDED BY GLARE AND BECAME DISORIENTED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND STRUCK A TREE ON AN ISLAND IN THE POND.  THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE HAD NO MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY DEPARTING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION, AWAY FROM THE SUN.  THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD NOT COMPLETED A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW IN 6 YEARS AND THAT 4 YEARS HAD TRANSPIRED SINCE HIS LAST FAA PHYSICAL EXAMINATION.                              (-23) ON LATE AFTERNOON, JULY 19, 1998, WHILE TAKING OFF FROM SOMMES POND, THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF ABOUT 1/2 WAY DOWN THE POND.  WHEN IT LIFTED, THE SUN SHOWN DIRECTLY IN THE EYES OF THE PILOT.  HE DID HAVE ON GLASSES OR PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES.  THE PILOT FELT DISORIENTED FROM BEING BLINDED BY THE SUN.  HE PULLED BACK ON THE POWER AND FELT A STRONG GUST LIFT THE WING DRIVING HIM SIDEWARDS.  THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A TREE ON THE SOUTH BANK OF THE ISLAND, CAUSING BOTH SPARS IN THE WING TO BREAK.  THE AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO THE WATER AT THE EDGE OF THE ISLAND.

## 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 IAD98LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA080), Jul 19, 1998: Aeronca 7FC (N7694E), Somesville, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate planning and decision, which fail to consider the effect of takeoff in the direction of the sunlight, which resulted in the pilot encountering sunglare and the loss of aircraft…

## Other reports on N7694E (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20060218002299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060218002299A), Feb 18, 2006: Bbavia 7FC (N7694E), Dover-Foxcroft, ME, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported that after takeoff and on climb at approximately 1,000 to 1100 feet altitude, the engine quit. The pilot stated that several attempts to…
- [Incident 19810503030349I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810503030349I), May 3, 1981: Bbavia 7FC (N7694E), Dexter, ME, Minor damage. Aircraft ground looped on landing. Pilot not familiar with this type of aircraft.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.