# NTSB CHI03LA112: Aeronca 7AC, N84868, Grand Rapids, MN, February 28, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 28, 2003 - Place: Grand Rapids, MN - Coordinates: 47.220268, -93.519401 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2203&lon=-93.5194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56884 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56884/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA112 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to obtain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall. The short, soft, takeoff area, and the trees were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - short runway/landing area (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - other (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane impacted trees during initial climb from a private grass airstrip. The pilot stated he took off and remained in ground effect. The airplane then stalled into an area of trees located at the departure end of the runway. The runway was 1,500 feet in length and had an upslope in the takeoff direction. ## Factual narrative On February 28, 2003, at 1400 central standard time, an Aeronca 7AC, N84868, was destroyed when it impacted trees during initial climb from a private grass airstrip near Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Visual meteorological condition prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot was uninjured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that it was his third time landing on the private airstrip. The landing was made towards the southwest over pine trees about 20 feet in height. The pilot then took off towards the northeast, remained in ground effect, and then stalled into the trees located at the departure end. He also stated that the airplane had become airborne well within the go-no go parameters but failed to climb possibly encountering a tail wind or wind shear. He reported that the winds were calm but later that afternoon they were 170 degrees at 4 knots. The grass airstrip was about 1,500 feet in length with an upslope towards the northeast. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84868](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N84868), registered now, S/N 7AC-3587, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 7AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-3587 - Airframe hours: 5100 - Engines: Continental C90 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ronald A. Powers - Registered owner: David Hutchins - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 2002, 30 hours before - Departed: PVT, Grand Rapids, MN - Destination: PVT - Airport: PVT, Private, runway 05, 1,500 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 6, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 19,449 total, 600 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.65 inHg ## 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 20030228007059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030228007059A), Feb 28, 2003: Bbavia 7AC, Grand Rapids, MN, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft had landed in a short field (800-1000FT) over a stand of approximately 20 foot tall pine trees. The attempted departure was over the same trees… 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.