20230712014669A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Aeronca 7DC · Ninilchik, AK · July 12, 2023

Date: July 12, 2023 · 16:20 local
Place: Ninilchik, AK
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N83391
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC23LA053
Reported as: Aeronca 7DC
Reported engine: Continental C85 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 75 total

N83391Registered now · Aeronca 7DCS/N 7AC2058 · Built 1946 Airframe modelAeronca 7DC Engine modelContinental C85 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot was returning from homer with a non-certificated passenger. He noticed that his oil pressure was fluctuating, and he was losing power. He stated he knew he couldn't make it to Ninilchik airport and decided to land on the sterling highway. Pilot landed aircraft but had to swerve on landing to miss vehicle traffic on the highway. Aircraft impacted guardrail and flipped over the guardrail. No injuries to pilot or passenger.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM HOMER WITH A NON-CERTIFICATED PASSENGER. HE NOTICED THAT HIS OIL PRESSURE WAS FLUCTUATING, AND HE WAS LOSING POWER. HE STATED HE KNEW HE COULDN'T MAKE IT TO NINILCHIK AIRPORT AND DECIDED TO LAND ON THE STERLING HIGHWAY. PILOT LANDED AIRCRAFT BUT HAD TO SWERVE ON LANDING TO MISS VEHICLE TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED GUARDRAIL AND FLIPPED OVER THE GUARDRAIL. NO INJURIES TO PILOT OR PASSENGER.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC23LA053Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportNinilchik, AKA total loss of engine power due to a shift of a crankshaft main bearing, which resulted in a lack of lubrication and subsequent overheating and failure of the engine crankshaft.Jul 13, 2023 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N83391 · 1

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

Accident 20190612011199ALanding: Touchdown · Nome Creek, AKThe pilot landed his aircraft on an area along the Nome Creek in Alaska. On touchdown the tailwheel assembly broke and jammed the tailwheel to the left causing the aircraft to make a sharp right turn and ground loop. The wing contacted the ground and…Jun 12, 2019 · Substantial damage