# NTSB ANC96LA122: Aeronca 7BCM, N2502B, Northway, AK, August 10, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 1996, 15:35 local (23:35 UTC) - Place: Northway, AK - Coordinates: 62.99916, -141.689407 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.9992&lon=-141.6894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2878 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2878/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA122 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning during a low pass of a remote airstrip and his inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor in the accident was unfavorable wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The certificated commercial pilot/flight instructor and a passenger were conducting a local area flight to inspect a remote landing strip. The landing area is about 2,500 feet long at 3,000 feet mean sea level and is oriented in an east/west direction. The pilot indicated he overflew the landing area at high altitude and then conducted a low pass over the landing area in a westerly direction about 10 to 14 feet above the ground. The pilot then reported encountering wind shear at the west end of the runway. The airplane collided with trees and received damage to the fuselage, landing gear, and wings. The pilot indicated the wind conditions were light and variable before the accident, generally from the south/southwest, and were calm after the crash. He did not report any turbulence. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 1996, about 1535 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Aeronca 7BCM, N2502B, crashed while maneuvering over a remote airstrip, about 45 miles north of Northway, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Northway airport at 1500. On August 11, 1996, at 1415, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) that he was showing the area to another pilot. The airstrip, oriented in an east/west direction, is about 2,500 feet long at 3,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The pilot initially overflew the strip at a high elevation and then performed a low pass in a westerly direction. The pilot began a right turn after passing the west end of the strip at an altitude of 10 to 14 feet above the ground. He indicated that he encountered a down draft or wind shear conditions and the airplane collided with trees. The airplane received damage to the landing gear and fuselage. The pilot reported that when he departed from Northway, the wind conditions were light and variable and after the accident, the winds appeared calm. The pilot holds a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument airplane ratings. In addition, the pilot holds a flight instructor certificate with airplane single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument ratings. In the pilot/operator report the pilot submitted to the Safety Board, the pilot indicated that a south wind was a factor in the accident. He reported the wind direction as south to southwest. He did not report any turbulence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2502B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2502B), registered now, S/N 47-1170 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 7BCM - Registry model: [Aeronca 7BCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7bcm) (registry code 2110106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 47-1170 - Engines: Continental C-85-8FJ 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel J. Lippman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 1996 - Departed: ORT, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,410 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,291 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °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 19960810022149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960810022149A), Aug 10, 1996: Bbavia 7BCM, Northway, AK, Substantial damage. Made low pass over remote strip collided with trees on climbing turnout. Blamed downdraft. 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.