# NTSB CHI94LA311: Aeronca 7BCM, N82114, Cassoday, KS, September 5, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 5, 1994, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Cassoday, KS
- Coordinates: 38.030094, -96.630691 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0301&lon=-96.6307&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9665
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA311
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9665/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA311

## Probable cause

the attempted low level flight/maneuver with inadequate visual lookout by the pilot-in-command.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - wire,transmission
  - low altitude flight/maneuver - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ON A LOCAL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT HE SAW A NORTHBOUND FREIGHT TRAIN AND DECIDED TO FOLLOW IT.  HE SAID HE INTERCEPTED THE TRACKS SOUTH OF THE TRAIN, LINED UP WITH THE TRACKS, AND DESCENDED.  HE SAID HE SAW POWER LINES AT EYE LEVEL AND ATTEMPTED TO PULL UP, BUT THE WIRES CAUGHT ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR, AND FLIPPED THE AIRPLANE TO THE GROUND INVERTED.

## Factual narrative

On September 5, 1994 about 1730 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7BCM, N82114, crashed after it struck power lines near Cassoday, Kansas.  The airplane was destroyed, and the private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was seriously injured.  The personal flight originated at the Newton-City-County Airport, Newton, Kansas at 1645, with an intended destination of the Captain Jack Thomas/El Dorado Airport, El Dorado, Kansas.  No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

The pilot stated he sighted a freight train moving northbound near El Dorado Lake and decided to follow it.  After lining up with the railroad tracks and descending, he said he saw some power lines at eye level.  He stated he attempted to pull up but the lines caught on the landing gear and flipped the airplane onto the track ballast inverted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82114](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82114-2013-02-27), registration cancelled 2013-02-27, S/N 7AC-740, built 1946 (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: 7AC-740
- Airframe hours: 1650
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-90-8FJ 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Terence G. Gandy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 21, 1994, 21 hours before
- Departed: EWK, NEWTON, KS
- Destination: EQA, EL DORADO, KS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 150 total, 62 in this make and model, 130 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ICT, 30 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19940905024959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940905024959A), Sep 5, 1994: Bbavia 7AC, Cassody, KS, Destroyed. Flew low over a freight train. Failed to see wires. Gear caught wires. Landed inverted on track ballast.

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.

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