CHI88FA192

NTSB accident investigation · Aeronca 7AC · Pierz, MN · August 7, 1988

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report

Date: August 7, 1988, 17:11 local (22:11 UTC)
Place: Pierz, MN
Injuries: 1 fatal
Damage: Destroyed
Phase of flight: Maneuvering
Aircraft: N3001EAeronca 7AC
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report July 9, 1990
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19880807030629A
Case key: 13960

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Pilot failed to maintain adequate control of the aircraft while maneuvering at a low altitude, resulting in a stall and collision with the ground. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent flight experience and training.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering - turn to reverse direction

Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Altitude - inadequatePilot in commandFactor

Inadequate trainingPilot in commandFactor

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Aircraft

Registration: N3001E
Reported as: Aeronca 7AC
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 7AC6587
Engine: Continental A-65-8F, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Destroyed
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Registered owner: Victor A. Malinowski
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · December 22, 1987
Departed: RLA · Pierz, MN

N3001ERegistration cancelled Sep 25, 2012 · Aeronca 7ACS/N 7AC-6587 · Built 1946 Airframe modelAeronca 7AC Engine modelContinental A&C65 seriesReciprocating

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 78
Certificate: Student
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Front
Toxicology: Performed
Flight hours: 85 total · 70 in this make and model · 64 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 330° at 5 knots
Visibility: 15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F
Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Observed at: BRD, 25 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.

Accident 19880807030629ABbavia 7AC · Pierz, MNStalled and hit trees and ground vertically from a steep low altitude bank. No recent student endorsements.Aug 7, 1988 · N3001E · Destroyed · 1 fatal