- Date
- September 1, 1999, 16:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place
- Heber City, UT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N86096Aeronca 11BC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 30, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990901027699A
- Case key
- 47302
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff roll. Factors were the gusting crosswind conditions, and the airport sign.
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.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll on runway 21, a gust of wind lifted his right wing. He said that he reduced the power to idle, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway and impacted an airport 'light stand.' He pilot had the airplane examined by a mechanic, and the pilot continued his flight the following morning. The airplane's left rear strut was subsequently replaced. The pilot reported that the sign was approximately 630 feet from the point where power was first applied, and that the sign was approximately 54 feet left of the runway's edge.
Factual narrative
On September 1, 1999, approximately 1615 mountain daylight time, an Aeronca Chief 11BC, N86096, was substantially damaged during takeoff when the left wing strut impacted an airport sign at Heber City Municipal Airport, Heber City, Utah. The private pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was being operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight which was originating at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll on runway 21, a gust of wind lifted the right wing. He reduced power to idle, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway and impacted an airport "light stand." The pilot had the airplane examined by a mechanic, then continued the flight the following morning. The airplane's left rear strut was subsequently replaced.
The pilot reported that the "light stand" was approximately 630 feet from the point where power was first applied, and approximately 54 feet left of the runway's edge.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N86096
- Reported as
- Aeronca 11BC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 29995-7-8
- Airframe hours
- 564
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James E. Delaney
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 2, 1999 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- 36U
- Destination
- PNA · Pinedale, WY
- Airport
- 36U · Heber City Municipal, runway 21, 6,900 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 68
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 371 total · 95 in this make and model · 30 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PVU, 20 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.