# NTSB ANC87LA150: Aeronca 7AC, N82171, Island Lake, AK, September 14, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 14, 1987, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Island Lake, AK
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4913
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC87LA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4913/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA150

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMBOUT THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER, STALLED, AND CRASHED INTO A ROW OF TREES NEAR THE LAKE. THE PILOT ALSO STATED IT WAS FUEL CONTAMINATION WHICH CAUSED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82171](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82171-1990-05-18), registration cancelled 1990-05-18, S/N 7AC797 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC797
- Airframe hours: 2200
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ronald L. Williams
- Registered owner: Ronald L Williams
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 1986, 40 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; flight hours: 1,500 total, 141 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19870914053169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870914053169A), Sep 14, 1987: Bbavia 7AC, Island Lake, AK, Substantial damage. Float equipped aircraft failed to climb after lake takeoff. Stalled into trees. Pilot suspects fuel contamination.

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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