# NTSB CHI96LA023: Aeronca 7AC, N84124, Lapeer, MI, October 29, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 1995, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Lapeer, MI - Coordinates: 43.040515, -83.319427 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0405&lon=-83.3194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 8, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10145 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10145/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA023 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion resulting in engine failure, the inadvertant stall, and improper decision by the pilot to attempt a large heading change at low altitude and airspeed. A factor relating to this accident is no fuel quantity gage installed in the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - not installed (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, emergency landing after takeoff - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE HAD CLIMBED TO 500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE AROUND TO LAND ON THE OPPOSITE RUNWAY. WHEN THE AIRPLANE CROSSED THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY, 'THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING AGAIN.' BEFORE THE PILOT COULD CLOSE THE THROTTLE, 'THE AIRPLANE BALLOONED INTO THE AIR.' BECAUSE OF HIS ALTITUDE AND A 10 KNOT TAILWIND, THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO LAND THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HE THEN DECIDED TO ATTEMPT A LANDING ON THE AIRPORT'S DIAGONAL RUNWAY WHICH REQUIRED THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A LEFT 130 DEGREE HEADING CHANGE AT LOW ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED. THE AIRPLANE 'STALLED,' AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN LEFT WING FIRST. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM SHOWED NO INDICATIONS OF FUEL PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR INSTALLED. ## Factual narrative On October 29, 1995, at 1730 eastern standard time (est), an Aeronca 7AC, N84124, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when after takeoff from a touch and go landing the airplane's engine quit. The airplane subsequently impacted the terrain after the pilot attempted to land on the opposite runway. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. A flight plan was not on file. The pilot reported minor injuries to himself and his passenger. The airplane was on a local flight which took off from Lapeer, Michigan, at 1200 est. In his written statement, the pilot reported the airplane had climbed to about 500 feet above ground level after takeoff on runway 27 when the engine lost power. He determined that he had enough altitude to turn the airplane around and land on the opposite runway. "There was a west wind of about 10 miles an hour." When the airplane crossed the approach end of runway 09 "the engine started running again." The pilot stated that the airplanes's nose down attitude must have allowed what remaining fuel he had in the system to reach the engine. Before the pilot could close the throttle, "the airplane ballooned into the air." With the tailwind and extra altitude, the pilot determined that he would not be able to land the airplane without running off the end of the runway. He then decided to attempt a landing on runway 32, the airport's diagonal runway. This maneuver required the pilot to execute a left 130 degree heading change at low altitude and airspeed. Concerned with a tree line ahead of him which ran parallel to runway 32, the pilot tightened his turn. At approximately 10 to 20 feet above ground level, the airplane "stalled," impacted the terrain left wing first and came to rest on runway 32. The pilot also reported in his written statement that the airplane had two gallons of fuel on board at the last takeoff. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the wreckage found no evidence of fuel at the accident site. Examination of the airplane's fuel system showed no indications of fuel in the carburetor, fuel lines or tank prior to impact. The airplane did not have a fuel quantity gage installed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84124](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N84124), registered now, S/N 7AC2811 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-2811 - Airframe hours: 950 - Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65-AF 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sutton Aviation, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1995, 18 hours before - Departed: D95 - Airport: D95, Dupont-Lapeer, runway 9, 1,900 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 102 total, 22 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °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 19951029034939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951029034939A), Oct 29, 1995: Bbavia 7AC, Lapeer, MI, Substantial damage. Engine quit on climbout turned back. On final engine started. Lost control stalled. Fuel was empty. No fuel gauge. (-23) pilot was performing takeoffs and… 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.