# NTSB CHI04CA288: Aeronca 7BCM, N4179E, St. James, MO, September 26, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 26, 2004, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: St. James, MO
- Coordinates: 38.005554, -91.607498
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0056&lon=-91.6075&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60411
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA288
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60411/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA288

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during the go-around.  Factors were the sun glare and the trees.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The airplane was damaged when it struck trees and the ground during an attempted go-around from runway 27 at a private airstrip.  In a written statement, the pilot said that as he was landing at his private airstrip, the sun was bright causing him to lose sight of the runway.  He elected to go-around but struck trees in the attempt.  He reported no failure of the airplane or systems.

## Factual narrative

On September 26, 2004, about 1830 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7BCM, N4179E, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it struck trees and the ground during an attempted go-around from runway 27 at a private airstrip near St. James, Missouri.  The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.  There were no injuries.  The local flight originated about 1745.

In a written statement, the pilot said that as he was landing at his private airstrip, the sun was bright causing him to lose sight of the runway.  He elected to go-around but struck trees in the attempt.  He reported no failure of the airplane or systems.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4179E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4179E), registered now, S/N 7BCM-174, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aeronca 7BCM
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7BCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7bcm) (registry code 2110106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 174
- Engines: Continental C-85 85 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael T. Hofstetter
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: St James, MO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 815 total, 101 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20040926024199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040926024199A), Sep 26, 2004: Bbavia 7BCM, St. James, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft crashed during go-around @ 18:30 - for private runway 27. The sun was low on the horizon - no clouds. The sun was in the pilot's eyes on…

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.