- Date
- July 9, 1983, 14:36 local (19:36 UTC)
- Place
- Gadsden, AL
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2557BAeronca 7BCM L-16A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830709029729A
- Case key
- 5973
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft collided with the ground in a 70 degree dive while taking part in an air show as a spotter plane. The acft had dropped one smoke grendade and was orbiting to drop another when it turned left and pitched down. According to an inspection guide for this acft, boots are required around the front and rear control sticks at the cabin floor. Witnesses stated that boots were never installed in this acft. Another witness said he helped the acft owner remove baggage, tools and supplies from the acft before the accident. One bag of tools was left under the front seat. After the accident tools and a metal box containing a 1/4 inch drive socket set were found around the front control stick yoke. The pilots body was in the front seat with both hands on the control stick.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2557B
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7BCM L-16A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- MIL 47-1273
- Engine
- Teledyne Cont C-85-8, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Henry R. Claxton
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 2, 1983
- Airport
- GAD · Gadsden
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,501 total · 144 in this make and model · 18 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GAD, 1 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.