# NTSB ANC94LA025: Aeronca BL-7AC, N84903, Circle City, AK, December 9, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 9, 1993, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Circle City, AK - Coordinates: 65.790061, -144.20018 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.7901&lon=-144.2002&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2479 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2479/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA025 ## Probable cause THE PILOT IN COMMANDS INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH LEAD TO AN INADVERTENT AERODYNAMIC STALL OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ICE FOG AND THE ICING CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - weather condition - ice fog (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT IN COMMAND ON VFR FLIGHT TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT HE FLEW THROUGH FOG AT MINUS FIVE DEGREES (-5 F) AND COLLECTED ICE ON WINDSHIELD AND WING LIFT STRUTS. THE AIRCRAFT INADEVERTANTLY ENTERED AN AERODYNAMIC STALL WHEN SLOWED TO APPROACH SPEED AND IMPACTED SHORT OF RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On December 9, 1993, at 1200 Alaska standard time, an Aeronca 7AC ski-equipped airplane, N84903, stalled in the traffic pattern and crashed at Circle City, Alaska. The airplane had departed North Pole, Alaska, near Fairbanks at 1130 under 14 CFR Part 91, while on a personal flight. No flight plan was filed and it was conducted as a VFR flight in visual meteorological conditions. The private pilot, as sole occupant, was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot told the FAA that he had "flown through some fog" en route and remembered ice built up on his windshield and lift struts during the descent to Circle City. He said that while in the traffic pattern the left wing dropped, he added power and used full opposite aileron, and the right wing fell and the airplane stalled and crashed in the brush near the field. The weather at the field at the time was minus (-5) five degrees (F) with visibility three miles in ice fog. FAA records indicated that the private pilot's medical certificate had expired as of July 1993. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84903](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N84903), registered now, S/N 7AC3622 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA BL-7AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3622 - Airframe hours: 3515 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kent L. Sherman - Registered owner: Kent L. Sherman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 1992, 182 hours before - Departed: FAI, NORTH POLE, AK - Airport: KQ3, Circle City (New), runway 15, 3,000 × 60 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 459 total, 357 in this make and model, 459 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: -6 °F ## 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 19931209046789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931209046789A), Dec 9, 1993: Bbavia 7AC, Circle, AK, Substantial damage. Flew through ice, fog prior arrival. Stalled while circling to land. Due to airframe ice. ## Other investigations on N84903 (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 ANC91LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA101), Jul 17, 1991: Aeronca 7AC (N84903), Chataniak Vly, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. 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.