# NTSB BFO94LA069: Aeronca 7AC, N84409, Beverly, MA, April 15, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 1994, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Beverly, MA - Location: 42.5841° N, 70.9161° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BEVERLY RGNL (BVY), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5841&lon=-70.9161&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8912 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8912/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA069 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS TAXIING ON TAXIWAY BRAVO WHEN HE GOT A CRAMP IN HIS RIGHT LEG. THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED RIGHT AND HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, SO HE DECIDED TO TAKEOFF ON THE TAXIWAY TO AVOID AN OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER HE WAS AIRBORNE HE RETURNED FOR LANDING ON SAME TAXIWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS TOO HIGH, SO HE TRIED TO GO-AROUND BUT THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND IMPACTED THE TREES. ## Factual narrative On April 15, 1994, at 1745 eastern daylight time, N84409, an Aeronca 7AC, collided with trees during an aborted landing at Beverly Airport, Beverly, Massachusetts. The certificated flight instructor, the sole occupant, was seriously injured and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was being operated under 14 CFR 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The pilot stated that he was taxiing fast on taxiway bravo when he got a "cramp in his right leg." The pilot reported that the airplane started to veer off the taxiway onto the soft shoulder. He stated that he decided to takeoff from the taxiway rather that nose over in the soft shoulder. He reported that after takeoff he made a 270 degree low turn low over the trees, and he tried to return for a landing on the same taxiway as he was unsure if anyone was landing on the runway. During the landing he overshot the taxiway, and he tried to go-around, but the airplane stalled and impacted the trees. An FAA Aviation Safety Inspector examined the airplane after the accident and reported that there were no anomalies noted. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction, and the accident could have been prevented if he does not do any "more wheel taxiing." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84409](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84409-2013-09-17), registration cancelled 2013-09-17, S/N 7AC-3103, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3103 - Airframe hours: 3228 - Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: New England Flyers - Registered owner: Scofield Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 20, 1993, 36 hours before - Departed: BVY - Destination: BVY - Airport: BVY, Beverly Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,023 total, 69 in this make and model, 869 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BVY, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940415008009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940415008009A), Apr 15, 1994: Bbavia 7AC, Beverly, MA, Destroyed. Got leg cramp taxiing. Elected takeoff. Avoid running onto runway. Returned on taxiway high. Stalled into trees. 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.