# NTSB ERA12CA035: American Champion 7AC, N3662E, Berkley, MA, October 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 17, 2011, 17:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Berkley, MA - Coordinates: 41.836944, -71.022499 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8369&lon=-71.0225&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82093 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82093/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82093 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA035 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain clearance from a tree during the final approach in solar glare conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 138 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,332 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 10,153 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported encountering solar glare during landing on runway 27. The airplane impacted a tree on the right edge of the approach end of the runway, then impacted the ground and came to rest inverted about 140 feet from the tree. The airplane sustained damage to the engine firewall, fuselage, and right wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane found no evidence of mechanical malfunction or anomalies. According to U.S. Naval Observatory data for the day of the accident, sunset occurred at 1800, about 45 minutes after the accident. ## Factual narrative According to police officers who responded to the accident site, the pilot reported encountering solar glare during landing on runway 27. The airplane impacted a tree on the right edge of the approach end of runway 27, then impacted the ground and came to rest inverted about 140 feet from the tree contact location. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who examined the airplane after the accident, found no evidence of mechanical malfunction or anomalies with the airplane. The inspector reported damage to the engine firewall, fuselage, and right wing. Despite several attempts to contact the pilot, no statement could be obtained, and the pilot did not complete the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form, 6120.1. According to U.S. Naval Observatory sun and moon data for the day of the accident, sunset occurred at 1800, approximately 45 minutes after the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3662E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3662E-2015-05-04), registration cancelled 2015-05-04, S/N 7AC-6977, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American Champion Aircraft 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-6977 - Airframe hours: 4428 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 2011 - Departed: Unknown - Destination: 1M8, Berkley, MA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 1M8, Myricks Airport, runway 27, 2,466 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 1,200 total, 136 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.64 inHg - Observed at: TAN, 5 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 20111017024779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111017024779A), Oct 17, 2011: Aeronca 7AC, Berkley, MA, Substantial damage. Aircraft was left down wind for runway 27. Aircraft was to low and hit tree with right wing causing airplane to go into a nose down attitude. Right wing tip… ## Other investigations on N3662E (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI75FEK17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75FEK17), Nov 30, 1974: Aeronca 7AC (N3662E), Barnesville, OH, substantial damage ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 29, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82093. 1.3 MB in all. - Weather Reports and Records (item 1, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359915&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Memorandum Concerning Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359069&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20Concerning%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record Concerning FAA Inspection (item 3, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359070&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Concerning%20FAA%20Inspection-Master.PDF - Sun and Moon Data (item 4, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359071&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Sun%20and%20Moon%20Data-Master.PDF - Report from Local Agency: Berkley Police Department (item 5, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359281&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20from%20Local%20Agency%3A%20Berkley%20Police%20Department-Redacted.PDF - Google Earth Plot Depicting Tree Contact and Accident Site Locations (item 6, .PDF, 242 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359914&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Google%20Earth%20Plot%20Depicting%20Tree%20Contact%20and%20Accident%20Site%20Locations-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View of the Airplane at the Accident Site. (item 7, .PDF, 691 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358935&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20of%20the%20Airplane%20at%20the%20Accident%20Site.-Master.PDF 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.