# NTSB CHI01LA323: Aeronca 7EC, N81910, Clear Lake, MN, September 25, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 25, 2001, 10:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Clear Lake, MN - Coordinates: 45.439846, -93.989166 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4398&lon=-93.9892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Minneapolis, Minnesota FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53561 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA323 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53561/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA323 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining directional control of the airplane during the takeoff. A factor was the soybean crop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis The aircraft went off of the left side of the runway during takeoff and nosed over. The pilot said in a written report, "I started the take off on the paved runway, which is 25 feet wide. The airplane veered to the left shortly after the tail came up and although I was using full right rudder, I was not able to straighten the airplane out. I got about a foot high and I was in a soybean field adjacent to runway 36. I attempted to correct the direction but hit first the right wheel and then the left wheel. When the left wheel hit, we ground looped. During the ground loop the airplane flipped over and the left wing was broken. The ground is relatively level at the airport and the 25 foot wide paved runway is located in the center of the 3000 foot by 150 foot runway 18-36." The pilot listed no mechanical malfunctions or failures is his report. No anomalies were found with respect to the airplane that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. ## Factual narrative On September 25, 2001, at 1020 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7EC, N81910, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during takeoff at the Leaders Clear Lake Airport, Clear Lake, Minnesota. The aircraft departed the west side of runway 36 (3,000 feet by 150 feet, asphalt/turf) and nosed over. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was on a visual flight rules flight plan and was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was bound for the Sleepy Eye Municipal Airport, Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. The pilot said in a written report, "I started the take off on the paved runway, which is 25 feet wide. The airplane veered to the left shortly after the tail came up and although I was using full right rudder, I was not able to straighten the airplane out. I got about a foot high and I was in a soybean field adjacent to runway 36. I attempted to correct the direction but hit first the right wheel and then the left wheel. When the left wheel hit, we ground looped. During the ground loop the airplane flipped over and the left wing was broken. The ground is relatively level at the airport and the 25 foot wide paved runway is located in the center of the 3000 foot by 150 foot runway 18-36." The pilot listed no mechanical malfunctions or failures is his report. No anomalies were found with respect to the airplane that could be associated with a pre-impact condition. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N81910](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N81910), registered now, S/N 7AC-533 (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: 7AC-533 - Airframe hours: 1882 - Engines: Continental C-90-12 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mark S. Jeffries - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 3, 2001, 40 hours before - Departed: 8Y6, Clear Lake, MN - Destination: Y58, SLEEPY EYE, MN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 8Y6, Leaders Clear Lake, runway 36, 3,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 5, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 336 total, 32 in this make and model, 248 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: STC, 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 20010925025149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010925025149A), Sep 25, 2001: Bbavia 7EC, Clear Lake, MN, No damage. (-23) During takeoff pilot lost control, aircraft turned left off runway and struck the dirt. Left wing was torn off approx. 3 feet from the wing attach… 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.