# Accident 20120901027659A: Aeronca 7AC, Brighton, MI, September 1, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 1, 2012, 08:30 local time
- Place: Brighton, MI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.5697° N, 83.7783° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5697&lon=-83.7783&mi=10
- Aircraft: N82383, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82383-2018-01-09) (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: AERONCA 7AC
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,686 total, 138 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12FA601](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA601) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120901027659A

## Narrative

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

WITNESSES NEAR THE NORTH END OF THE AIRPORT STATED THAT THE ENGINE RUN-UP AND TAKE-OFF ON RUNWAY 22 SOUNDED AND APPEARED NORMAL.  WITNESSES AT THE SOUTH END OF THE AIRPORT (DEPARTURE END OR RUNWAY 22)STATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS NOT PRODUCING FULL POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT CLIMB ABOVE THE TREES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT.  ONE WITNESS DESCRIBED SEEING THE AIRCRAFT TURNING BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT THEN "NOSE DIVE" INTO THE SWAMP.THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A SWAMPY AREA APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS SOUTHEAST OF THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY IN A NOSE DOWN RIGHT WING LOW ATTTITUDE.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT THAT THE WITNESS DESCRIBED IT TRAVELING PRIOR TO "NOSE DIVING".EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE IMPACT ISSUES. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS CONFIRMED AT THE SCENE, FUEL WAS PRESENT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND OIL WAS IN THE ENGINE.THE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME OF TAKE-OFF WAS 66 DEGREES F AND THE DEWPOINT WAS 55 DEGREES F.  THE CARBURETOR ICE PROBABILITY CHART FOR THOSE CONDITIONS SHOWED CARBURETOR ICE AS EXTREMELY POSSIBLE.AT REQUEST OF THE NTSB, THE ENGINE WAS  STARTED AND IT RAN AT IDLE POWER USING ALL PARTS FROM THE ENGINE EXCEPT FOR MAGNETO HARNESS' THAT WERE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR DURING THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 CEN12FA601](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA601), Sep 1, 2012: Aeronca 7AC (N82383), Brighton, MI, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed following a partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and…

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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