# NTSB CHI02LA134: Aeronca 7FC, N85258, Neenah, WI, May 11, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 11, 2002, 08:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place: Neenah, WI
- Coordinates: 44.160453, -88.47097 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1605&lon=-88.4710&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA-Milwaukee, Wisconsin-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 54718
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54718/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54718
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA134

## Probable cause

The pilot not maintaining control of the airplane during the landing approach, and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The airplane was damaged when it impacted terrain about 200 feet short of the runway while approaching to land.  The pilot said that the airplane impacted the ground about 10 yards before a row of trees.  He said that he did not, "... remember anything between being on final and being pulled from the plane.  A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that could be determined to have existed prior to impact.

## Factual narrative

On May 11, 2002, about 0815 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7FC, N85258, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain about 200 feet short of runway 18 (2,450 feet by 20 feet, asphalt), at the Brennand Airport, Neenah, Wisconsin.  The airplane was approaching to land when the accident occurred.  The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.  The pilot was seriously injured, and the passenger received minor injuries.  The local flight originated at  0800.

In a written report, the pilot said that the airplane impacted the ground about 10 yards before a row of trees.  He said that he did not, "... remember anything between being on final and being pulled from the plane."

A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that could be determined to have existed prior to impact.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N85258 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Aeronca 7FC
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7FC-332
- Airframe hours: 1071
- Engines: Continental C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Allan P. Skruby
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 2001, 10 hours before
- Departed: 79C, NEENAH, WI
- Airport: 79C, Brennand, runway 18, 2,450 × 20 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 80 total, 2 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observed at: ATW, 6 nm away

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54718. 289 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436527&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.