# Accident 20240616019909A: Aeronca 7AC, Topsham, ME, June 16, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 16, 2024, 10:30 local time
- Place: Topsham, ME
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.9648° N, 70.0280° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9648&lon=-70.0280&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3854E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3854E) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 900 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA334) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240616019909A

## Narrative

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

THE MORNING OF 16 JUN 2024, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^A 1947 AERONCA MODEL 7AC SERIAL NUMBER 7AC-7094 DEPARTED BXM.  AFTER APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES OF FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEADING NORTHBOUND FOLLOWING THE ANDROSCOGGIN RIVER APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES NW OF THE INTERSTATE 295 BRIDGE CROSSING.  THE PILOT MADE A CLIMBING RIGHT HAND 180-DEGREE TURN.  DURING THE TURN PILOT HEARD ENGINE RPM REDUCING, FOLLOWED BY ROUGH OPERATION AND LOSS OF THRUST.  THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO IDLE BUT WAS PRODUCING NO POWER.  PILOT DETERMINED DITCHING IN THE RIVER WAS THE SAFEST OPTION.  DURING DESCENT, PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN POWER BY ADJUSTING CARB HEAT AND THROTTLE POSITION BUT WAS UNABLE.  PILOT OBSERVED KAYAKERS ON THE RIVER AND MANEUVERED TO AVOID THE HAZARD.  THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE FLIGHT.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE RIVER SURFACE AT APPROXIMATELY 1030L COMING TO REST IN A NORMAL ATTITUDE AND BEGAN SINKING.  THE PILOT MADE NO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DURING DESCENT.  THE PILOT EVACUATED THE COCKPIT, CLIMBED ATOP THE FUSELAGE, AND CALLED EMERGENCY SERVICES.  THE KAYAKERS WERE ABLE TO ASSIST THE PILOT TO SHORE WHERE HE WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WITH MINOR 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 ERA24LA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA334), Jun 16, 2024: Aeronca 7AC (N3854E), Topsham, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing as a result of the pilot’s delayed application of carburetor heat.

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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