- Date
- December 4, 1994, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place
- Sabinsville, PA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N83073Aeronca 7AC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 16, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941204047159A
- Case key
- 9021
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate visual lookout during cruise flight which resulted in inflight collision with wires.
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 pilot reported that he was on a cross country flight to observe a farm from the air when he failed to see the power lines. The airplane struck the wires before colliding with the terrain. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction.
Factual narrative
On December 4, 1994, at 1520 eastern standard time, N83073, an Aeronca 7AC, struck wires and then collided with terrain while maneuvering at Sabinsville, Pennsylvania. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The certificated commercial pilot was seriously injured, and the passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91 and originated in Knoxville, Pennsylvania. The destination was Sabinsville, Pennsylvania.
The pilot reported that they were on a cross country flight to observe a farm from the air. He stated that he did not see the power lines. The aircraft struck the wires and collided with the terrain. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N83073
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7AC-1731
- Engine
- Continental C-65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Grant G Gehman
- Registered owner
- Grant Gehman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 6PS3 · Knoxville, PA
- Destination
- PA
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
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 660 total · 400 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- IPT
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N83073 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.