# NTSB ANC05CA148: Aeronca 7AC, N2873E, Coldfoot, AK, September 17, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 16, 2005, 18:00 local (Sep 17, 2005, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Coldfoot, AK
- Coordinates: 67.483329, -147.856384
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.4833&lon=-147.8564&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62538
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA148
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62538/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA148

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudgment of distance/altitude during the landing flare/touchdown, which resulted in an undershoot and subsequent nosing down of the airplane when the main landing gear tires contacted shallow water prior to the intended landing site.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown
  - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water
- Nose down, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

The private certificated pilot was landing on a gravel bar along a river.  During the landing approach, the pilot said that the main landing gear tires contacted the surface of shallow water at the edge of the gravel bar.  The airplane then nosed down and received damage to the propeller, wings, and the left wing lift strut.

## Factual narrative

On September 16, 2005, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Aeronca 7AC airplane, N2873E, sustained substantial damage when it nosed down at a remote landing area, about 56 miles northeast of Coldfoot, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot.  The solo private certificated pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed, nor was one required.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 23, the pilot reported that he was landing on a gravel bar along the middle fork of the Chandalar River.  During the landing approach, the pilot said that the main landing gear tires contacted the surface of shallow water at the edge of the gravel bar.  The airplane then nosed down and received damage to the propeller, wings, and the left wing lift strut.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2873E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2873E-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 7AC-6456, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aeronca 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC-6456
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Carsten T. Seaton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Coldfoot, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 770 total, 548 in this make and model, 116 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20050916029169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050916029169A), Sep 16, 2005: Bbavia 7AC, Coldfoot, AK, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot landed short of gravel bar (off airport landing area) in water, nosed down, and bent left lift strut. [privacy data omitted]

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.

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