# Accident 20020803021569A: Bbavia 7AC, Caro, MI, August 3, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 3, 2002, 10:30 local time
- Place: Caro, MI
- Airport: Caro Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.4581° N, 83.4469° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4581&lon=-83.4469&mi=10
- Aircraft: N84546, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84546-2003-01-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca 7AC (registry code 2110102, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BBAVIA 7AC
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 6,600 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02FA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02FA228) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020803021569A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON AUGUST 3, 2002, AT 1000 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AERONCA 7AC, N84546, IMPACTED THE TERRAIN FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING AN INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB FROM RUNWAY 05 (3,965 FEET BY 75 FEET, DRY ASPHALT) AT THE TUSCOLA AREA AIRPORT (78D), IN CARO, MICHIGAN. THE PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES AND A PRIVATE PILOT RATED PASSENGER RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL LOCAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 75 FEET AFTER TAKEOFF. IT THEN ENTERED A SHARP LEFT TURN AND DESCENDED TO IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST AT THE TOP OF A 6-FOOT TALL BERM APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET FROM THE NORTH EDGE OF RUNWAY 05. (-23) UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURY AND IS IN A LOCAL HOSPITAL IN CARO, MI. THERE IS NO REASON AT THIS JUNCTURE TO QUESTIONPILOT COMPETENCY. WITNESSES STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF AND AT APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET AGL, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A TURN TO THE LEFT, DESCENDED INTO A                                                                    BERM LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. DEPARTURE WAS ON RUNWAY 05 AT THE CARGO, TUSCOLA MUNI AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SHOULDER HARNESSES, WHICH IF INSTALLED, MAY HAVE PREVENTED OR LESSENED THE DEGREE OF INJURY. BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER IMPACTED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL RESULTING IN HEAD AND FACIAL INJURIES.

## 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 CHI02FA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02FA228), Aug 3, 2002: Aeronca 7AC (N84546), Caro, MI, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The passenger became incapacitated as a result of a stroke which lead to the inadvertent interference with the flight controls.

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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