# Accident 20150721010269A: Aeronca 7BCM, Auburn, WY, July 21, 2015 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 21, 2015, 18:48 local time - Place: Auburn, WY - Airport: Afton Municipal - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Maneuver - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 42.7944° N, 111.0136° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7944&lon=-111.0136&mi=10 - Aircraft: N8362H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8362H-2018-03-07) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Aeronca 7BCM (registry code 2110106, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7bcm) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7BCM - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 2 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 1,800 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15FA310](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA310) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150721010269A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. PILOT TOOK 4.99 GALLONS OF FUEL FOR INTENDED FLIGHT AT 1724GMT THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE TAKEN OFF FROM THE AFTON AIRPORT (KAFO) AT APPX 1840GMT. THE AIRCRAFT FLEW NORTHWEST APPX 6.3 MILES ON HEADING 330 (NW). THE PURPOSE OF THIS OPERATION WAS A CANDY DROP FOR A LOCAL EVENT. THE AIRCRAFT IS REPORTED TO HAVE MADE 2 PASSES. ON THE LAST PASS INSTEAD OF GOING AROUND FOR A THIRD THE PILOT ELECTED TO FLY HEADDING 142 (SE) TOWARD AN AREA WHERE THE PILOT IS KNOWN TO LAND IN A FIELD (DISTANCE .5 MILES ALTITUDE APPX 100'-110'AGL). WHEN THE AIRCRAFT REACHED THIS AREA IT IS REPORTED THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A SHARP BANKING TURN IN EXCESS OF 70 DEGREES BANK AND TURNING 360 DEGREES TO HIS LEFT. DUE TOO AIRCRAFT LOW POWER AVAILABILITY (ENGINE SIZE & DENSITY ALTITUDE) AND PROXIMITY TO THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO RECOVER FROM THE MENUVER AND EXPERIENCED LOSS OF LIFT AND STALLED AND CRASHED INTO THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND PROP AND NOSE FIRST THE ATTITUDE WAS FLAT WITH THE LEFT WING STILL SLIGHTLY DOWN. THERE WAS EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE THE AIRCRAFT STILL HAD FORWARD MOMENTUM WHEN IT STRUCK THE GROUND (AIRCRAFT SLID APPX 40' BEFORE IT CAME TO REST). THE PROPR SEPERATED FROM THE PROP SHAFT AND WAS FWD OF THE AIRCRAFT APPX 20' BOTH THE PROP AND SHAFT SHOWED SIGNS CONSISTANT WITH ROTATION UNDER POWER. THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT WING SPAR WAS BROKEN AT THE ROOT END FROM THE FUSALAGE AND SUSTAINED SIGNIFIGANT DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FACING SOUTH WEST WHEN IT CAME TO REST. THE STRUCTURE WAS SIGNIFIGANTLY DAMAGED AND HAD SEVERAL WELD BROKEN AND THE TUBING BROKE OR CRACKED. CONTINUITY OF CONTROL COULD NOT BE ASCERTAINED AT THE SCENE THERE WERE SEVERAL BROKEN CONTROL CABLES SHOWED SIGNS CONSISTANT WITH FAILURE UNDER TENSION. (BELIEVED TO HAVE BROKEN DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE). AIRCRAFT FLOOE WAS DESTOYED AND BOTH SEATS WERE LOOSE IN THE CABIN. FUEL WAS NOT PRESENT BUT THE FUEL TANK HAD RUPTURED DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. ## 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 CEN15FA310](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA310), Jul 22, 2015: Aeronca 7BCM (L-16A) (N8362H), Auburn, WY, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while turning at low altitude, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and entering an aerodynamic stall. ## Other reports on N8362H (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19870708032609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870708032609A), Jul 8, 1987: Bbavia 7BCM (N8362H), Bountiful, UT, Substantial damage. Aircraft weather cocked into the crosswind on landing. Departed the runway and struck a fence post. - [Accident 19850601022089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850601022089A), Jun 1, 1985: Bbavia 7BCM (N8362H), Bountiful, UT, Substantial damage. Ground looped after wheel landing and left main gear collapsed. Pilot had two hours total time in 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.