# NTSB CHI93LA239: Aeronca AC7B, N1032E, Kearney, MO, June 29, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 29, 1993, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Kearney, MO - Coordinates: 39.359409, -94.359619 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3594&lon=-94.3596&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9232 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA239 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9232/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA239 ## Probable cause THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND THE AIRCRAFT EXCEEDING MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT. ## 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 - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis DURING TAKEOFF, THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID A SMALL TREE AT THE FENCED PROPERTY LINE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE LEFT WING DROPPED, AIRSPEED WAS LOST, AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH AIRFRAME, ENGINE OR ACCESSORIES. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 1993, approximately 1345 central daylight time, an Aeronca AC7B; N1032E, sustained substantial damage after takeoff from a private strip in Kearney, Missouri. The airline transport pilot received minor injuries and the accompanying pilot received serious injuries. No flight plan was filed for this pleasure flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the Pilot in Command (PIC), after reaching indicated airspeed for lift off, the aircraft "tried to go to the right." The pilot said that after he applied left rudder and aileron, the aircraft lost airspeed, prompting him to put the nose down to gain airspeed. The PIC reported that the descending winds forced the aircraft to the ground despite his efforts. The grass strip is oriented East to West. The aircraft was attempting to take-off to the west with a southerly wind. The aircraft came to rest just beyond the departure end of the runway. The aircraft wreckage and ground scars indicate the left wing tip made the initial ground contact. During an interview, the pilot recalled "topping off the tank" prior to take-off. The fuel tank holds 15 gallons of fuel. This weight, combined with the front seat occupant's 225 pounds, and the rear seat occupants 180 pounds, totals 495 pounds. The aircraft's empty weight is 784 pounds, giving a gross weight of 1279 pounds. Maximum gross weight is 1220, therefore, gross weight was exceeded by 59 pounds. While being interviewed by the Clay County Sheriff's Department, the passenger stated that he and the pilot had just taken off, and were headed west with a strong wind from the south. The passenger told the deputy that "the airplane caught in the wind, and the left wing had dropped, causing the airplane to pitch to the left and loose lift." Later, the pilot was interviewed by a Federal Aviation Administration investigator while in the hospital. The pilot stated that after the aircraft became airborne, he maneuvered the airplane to the right to avoid a small tree at the property fence line. Shortly after that, the left wing dropped. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction with airframe, engine or accessories. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1032E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1032E), registered now, S/N 7AC-4583, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA AC7B - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-4583 - Airframe hours: 1776 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-8 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cox, John D. - Registered owner: John Cox - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1992, 32 hours before - Airport: NONE, John Cox Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 660 total, 17 in this make and model, 660 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point -0 °F ## 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 19930629020859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930629020859A), Jun 29, 1993: Bbavia 7AC, Kearney, MO, Substantial damage. Over gross weight took off in crosswind. Veered to miss a tree. Wing stalled. Wing tip hit ground. 7AC cartwheeled. 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.