# NTSB ATL87FA132: Aeronca 7BCM, N10521, Georgiana, AL, May 3, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 3, 1987, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Georgiana, AL
- Coordinates: 31.629024, -86.740493 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6290&lon=-86.7405&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7293
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87FA132
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7293/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87FA132

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - comm/nav equipment - erratic (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLTS & PAX OF 2 ACFT WERE RETURNING FROM AN ANNUAL PLEASURE TRIP. NEITHER ACFT HAD A GOOD COMM RADIO. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THEY ENCTRD FOG. THEY FLEW ABOVE THE WX UNTIL THEY WERE NEAR THEIR 1ST REFUELING STOP (GREENVILLE, AL). BOTH PLTS DSCNDD BENEATH THE OVERCAST THRU BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS TO FIND THE ARPT. ONE PLT MADE HIS WAY TO GREENVILLE UNDER A VARIABLE CEILING; HOWEVER, THE OTHER ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE. LATER, WRECKAGE OF N10521 WAS FND ABT 1.5 MI NORTH OF MCGOWIN AIRSTRIP. THE STRIP WAS ABOUT 11 MI SOUTH OF THE PLANNED REFUELING STOP. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ACFT HAD HIT TREES WHILE FLYING ALONG A HIWAY & PWR LINE TOWARD THE AIRSTRIP. NO PREIMPACT MECH PROBLEM WAS FND. THE AIRSTRIP OWNER HAD SEEN AN ACFT MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION OF N10521 ON A NORTHERLY HDG NEAR THE TIME OF THE ACDNT. HE ESTD THE WX WAS 800 TO 900 FT OVC, VIS 2 MI WITH FOG & INTMT LGT RAIN. TESTS OF THE PLT'S BLOOD WERE MADE AT 2 LABS; 1 SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.05%;THE OTHER SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.032%. TESTS OF THE PLT'S VITREOUS HUMOR & URINE BOTH SHOWED ALCOHOL LVLS OF 0.08%.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N10521](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10521-1998-01-03), registration cancelled 1998-01-03, S/N 7BCM257 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7BCM
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7BCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7bcm) (registry code 2110106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7BCM-257
- Airframe hours: 865
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert W. Mclemore
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 1986, 27 hours before
- Departed: 81J, DESTIN, FL
- Destination: M10, COLUMBIA, TN
- Airport: 4A3, Mcgowin

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 400 total, 321 in this make and model, 348 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19870503012029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870503012029A), May 3, 1987: Bbavia 7BCM, Georgiana, AL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. The aircraft impacted trees. Suspect the VFR pilot attempted flight in IFR conditions. Alcohol consumption.

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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