# NTSB CEN13CA530: Aeronca 7EC, N4348C, Plattsmouth, NE, August 31, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 31, 2013, 08:25 local (13:25 UTC)
- Place: Plattsmouth, NE
- Coordinates: 40.948333, -95.917221 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9483&lon=-95.9172&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87992
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA530
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87992/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87992
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA530

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of control during takeoff.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7EC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2110120), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7EC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2110120), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 7EC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110120), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While departing runway 16 for a local flight, the private pilot in the front seat was piloting the airplane, while the commercial pilot followed along on the controls from the rear seat. When the airplane became airborne, it yawed to the right and crossed the left edge of the runway. Aircraft control was lost as the airplane's right wing suddenly dropped and the right main landing gear contacted the ground. The airplane descended and spun 180 degrees. Substantial damage was sustained to the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failure prior to the accident. The wind at the time of the accident was reported calm; however, an ultralight pilot, who had flown shortly before the accident airplane, reported a 5-10 knot wind from the south just above the runway.

## Factual narrative

While departing runway 16 for a local flight, the private pilot in the front seat was piloting the airplane, while the commercial pilot followed along on the controls from the rear seat. When the airplane became airborne, it yawed to the right and crossed the left edge of the runway. Aircraft control was lost as the airplane's right wing suddenly dropped and the right main landing gear contacted the ground. The airplane descended and spun 180 degrees. Substantial damage was sustained to the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failure prior to the accident. Winds at the time of the accident were reported calm, however an ultralight pilot, who had flown shortly before the accident airplane, reported a 5-10 knot wind from the south just above the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4348C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4348C), registered now, S/N 7EC-367, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7EC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7EC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ec) (registry code 2110120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7EC-367
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES 95 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Taildragger Inc
- Registered owner: Taildragger Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KPMV, Plattsmouth, NE
- Destination: KPMV, Plattsmouth, NE
- Airport: KPMV, Plattsmouth Municipal, runway 16, 5,500 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 10, 2013; seat: right; flight hours: 5,514 total, 254 in this make and model, 4,356 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days
- Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 5, 2013; seat: front; flight hours: 250 total, 5 in this make and model, 204 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: KPMV

## 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 20130831019559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130831019559A), Aug 31, 2013: Aeronca 7EC, Plattsmouth, NE, Substantial damage. On August 31, 2013, at 0825 am CDT, Aeronca 7EC, N4348C, was involved in an accident at the Plattsmouth municipal airport, Plattsmouth, Nebraska. The pilot in…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87992. 5.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402267&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Correspondence: Record of Conversation Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402268&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%3A%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20Pilot-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.

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