# NTSB CEN10LA478: Aeronca 7CCM, N85065, Justin, TX, August 14, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 14, 2010, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Justin, TX - Coordinates: 33.075, -97.355278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0750&lon=-97.3553&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 76959 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA478 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76959/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76959 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA478 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's delay in transferring fuel from the gravity feed wing tanks to the main tank. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot made a full-stop landing, taxied back, and took off. During the climb out, the engine "sputtered" and lost power. The pilot made a forced landing on a grass field. During the landing, the right main landing gear fractured aft and collapsed, and the right wing and lift strut were bent. When asked how this accident could have been prevented, the pilot said he should have transferred fuel from the gravity feed wing tanks to the main tank sooner. An examination of the airplane's engine and other systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 2010, approximately 1045 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7CCM, N85065, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Justin, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane were not injured. The local flight originated from Roanoke, Texas, at 1030, and was returning to that airport when the accident occurred. According to the FAA inspector who went to the scene, the pilot said he had flown over to Prop Wash Airstrip (16X), Justin, where he made a full-stop landing. He taxied back and took off. During climb out, the engine "sputtered" and lost power. The pilot made a forced landing on a grass field near the airstrip. During the landing, the right main collapsed and the right wing and lift strut were bent. The pilot said in his written statement that accident could have been prevented if he had "Start[ed] fuel transfer from gravity feed wing tanks to [the] main tank earlier." An examination of the airplane showed substantial damage to the right main landing gear, right lower fuselage, right outboard wing and lift strut, and fracture damage to the propeller. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N85065](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85065), registered now, S/N 7AC-3792, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7CCM - Registry model: [Aeronca 7CCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ccm) (registry code 2110110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-3792 - Airframe hours: 1745 - Engines: Continental A75-8 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard P. Zipperer - Registered owner: Richard P. Zipperer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 2010, 20 hours before - Departed: 52F, Justin, TX - Destination: 52F, Roanoke, TX - Airport: 16X, Prop Wash, runway 17, 3,000 × 45 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 24, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 6,115 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 6,050 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: AFW, 7 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 20100814043729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100814043729A), Aug 14, 2010: Aeronca 7CCM, Justin, TX, Substantial damage. On August 14, 2010, at approximately 1050 local, N85065, an Aeronca model 7CCM airplane suffered substantial damage during an emergency landing in the vicinity… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 16, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76959. 5.6 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 159 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335998&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Left front of airplane. (item 3, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335331&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Left%20front%20of%20airplane.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Right front of airplane. (item 4, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335332&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Right%20front%20of%20airplane.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Front of airplane. (item 5, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335333&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Front%20of%20airplane.-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Another frontal view of airplane. (item 6, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335334&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Another%20frontal%20view%20of%20airplane.-Master.PDF 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.