# NTSB ANC83LA163: Aeronca 7AC Champ, N3124E, Seldovia, AK, September 4, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 3, 1983, 17:40 local (Sep 4, 1983, 01:40 UTC)
- Place: Seldovia, AK
- Coordinates: 59.390445, -151.659179 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.3904&lon=-151.6592&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4165
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83LA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4165/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83LA163

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

THE ACFT OVERTURNED ON TAKEOFF DUE TO TURBULENT WIND CONDITIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WIND WAS FROM 243 DEGREES AT 16 KTS. NO GUSTS. HE STATED ALSO THAT SEVERE TURBULENCE EXISTED AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ARPT MANAGER SAID THATTHE ACFT TOOK OFF FROM RWY 16, ATTAINED AN ALT OF 100-150 FT AGL WHEN A GUST OF WIND FLIPPED THE ACFT UP AND OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3124E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3124E-1983-12-09), registration cancelled 1983-12-09, S/N 7AC6721, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC CHAMP
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7CCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ccm) (registry code 2110110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC-6721
- Airframe hours: 1898
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-200H 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: George D. Hermon
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 1983, 37 hours before
- Airport: SOV, Seldovia, runway 34, 2,600 × 80 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 730 total, 730 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 243° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HOM, 13 nm away

## 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 19830903068149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830903068149A), Sep 3, 1983: Bbavia 7AC, Seldovia, AK, Substantial damage. After takeoff, aircraft was flipped over by a gust of wind.

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.

---
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.
