# NTSB CEN23FA248: Aeronca 7CCM, N308ED, Duluth, MN, June 21, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: June 21, 2023, 07:19 local (12:19 UTC) - Place: Duluth, MN - Coordinates: 47.118398, -91.98392 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1184&lon=-91.9839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern crosswind: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 192414 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23FA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192414/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192414 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA248 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern crosswind: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern crosswind: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident flight was the first flight after the pilot completed an annual inspection the previous day. The pilot and passenger were completing a local flight to the pilot’s private grass strip. GPS data revealed that the airplane flew about 18 nm, then approached the grass strip and entered a left downwind for the runway. The airplane overflew the runway about 100 ft above ground level (agl) at a groundspeed of 58 mph. Near the departure end of the runway the airplane climbed and accelerated to 64 mph, then gradually slowed to 54 mph and reached a peak altitude of 240 ft agl. The airplane then made a descending left turn toward the accident site. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the outboard leading edge of the right wing exhibited aft accordion crush damage, the empennage was distorted to the right, and the engine and propeller were buried into the ground. Rotational scoring and leading edge damage was noted on both propeller blades and several tree limbs were cut by the rotating propeller blades. The examination revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The flight track showing a descending left turn, the position of the wreckage, the right wing crush damage, the empennage distorted to the right, and the lack of a horizontal debris field all suggest that the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall before it impacted the ground. It is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack and failed to maintain proper airspeed at an altitude too low to recover, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain. ## Factual narrative The airplane’s maintenance records showed that an annual inspection was signed off by the accident pilot the day before the accident. There were no outstanding discrepancies noted in the maintenance logbook entries. There was no electrical system installed in the airplane. The most recent airplane weight and balance from October 13, 2021, revealed that the empty weight was 910 lbs and the maximum gross weight was 1,300 lbs, which allowed a useful load of 390 lbs. At the time of the accident, the airplane was about 136 lbs over maximum gross weight and the center of gravity was within an acceptable range. This weight is estimated based on 5 gallons of fuel in the auxiliary fuel tanks. The actual total amount of fuel onboard is unknown as both the main fuel tank and the left auxiliary fuel tank were breached. On June 21, 2023, at 0719 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7CCM airplane, N308ED, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Duluth, Minnesota. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot had just completed an annual inspection on the airplane the day before the accident. Family and coworkers of the pilot stated that the pilot was likely flying to his private airstrip to view the area. Data from the pilot’s handheld GPS revealed that after departure, the airplane proceeded northeast about 18 nm to the pilot’s private grass airstrip. The airplane approached from the south and entered a left downwind for the east runway. The airplane overflew the runway about 100 ft agl and 58 mph groundspeed. Near the departure end of the runway the airplane climbed and accelerated to 64 mph, then gradually slowed to 54 mph and reached a peak of 240 ft agl. The airplane then made a descending left turn toward the accident site (Figure 1). Figure 1. End of accident flight track overlaid on Google Earth. The wreckage was located in a densely wooded area about 1,500 ft east of the private grass strip. There was no noticeable damage to the surrounding trees or to the tree canopy (Figure 2). The airplane impacted in a right-wing-low and nose-down attitude. The right wing’s leading edge exhibited accordion crush damage and the empennage was distorted to the right. The left wing was mostly straight with wrinkling and minimal leading edge damage. Figure 2. Aerial view of accident site (Courtesy of Sheriff’s Office). Flight control continuity was established, through overload separations and first responder cuts, from the cockpit controls to the control surfaces. The front and back seats remained attached to their respective fuselage attach points. Both sets of 3-point harness assemblies remained latched but the left side of each lap belt was cut during the recovery. Both shoulder harness webbings were separated at the Y junctions. All harnesses remained attached to their respective fuselage attach points. The main fuel tank and leftauxiliary fuel tank were breached and did not contain fuel. There was blue aviation gasoline found pooled in the cockpit area underneath the main tank. The right auxiliary fuel tank contained about 2.5 gallons of aviation gasoline. The engine and propeller were buried in the ground and remained attached to the airframe. One propeller blade was bent aft about mid-span and the other blade was relatively straight with no noticeable bending. Both blades exhibited leading edge gouges and chordwise abrasions. At the accident site, underneath the right wing and near the engine, there were several tree branches that exhibited 45° cuts and visible paint transfer from impact with the rotating propeller. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N308ED](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N308ED), registered now, S/N 7AC2952, 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 C90-8F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-8f) (registry code 17181, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC2952 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 1971.4 - Engines: Continental Motors C90-8F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stevens Mike - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 2023, 0 hours before - Departed: DLH, Duluth, MN - Airport: pvt, Private strip, runway 110, 1,700 × 45 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 20, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 639.49 total, 17.74 in this make and model, 2.3 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KTWM, 11 nm away - METAR: KTWM 211215Z AUTO 07004KT 10SM CLR 17/13 A3013 RMK AO2 ## 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 20230621009219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230621009219A), Jun 21, 2023: Aeronca 7CCM, Duluth, MN, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. During first flight after annual inspection PIC and co-worker departed Duluth international airport (kdlh) and flew to property owned by PIC. Data recovered… ## Docket (11 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192414. 138 MB in all. - NTSB investigation summary (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17247421&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Investigation%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 12 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15730911&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20Owner_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpt from FAA ATC package - communications summary (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 513 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17545260&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pages%20from%20ATC%20Accident%20Package%20-%20comms%20summary-Rel.pdf - Air traffic control audio and radar (item 4, MP4, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17233463&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=dlh-b-2023-06-21_dlh%20fatal-Rel.mp4 - Airplane flight logs (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 70.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15730767&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airplane%20flight%20logs_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 6, PDF, 14 pages, 13 photos, 11.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17248288&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 7, PDF, 18 pages, 43.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17232436&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Type certificate data sheet - 7CCM (item 8, PDF, 3 pages, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17233938&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=7CCM%20TCDS%20-%20A-759%20Rev%2073-Rel.pdf - Flying club rules draft (item 9, PDF, 3 pages, 6.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15968535&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flying%20club%20unofficial%20rules-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 10, PDF, 2 pages, 332 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15960850&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Tox%20-%20pilot%202_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Autopsy memo (item 11, PDF, 1 page, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17245490&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Autopsy%20memo-Rel.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.