# NTSB ERA15LA251: Aeronca 7AC, N84927, East Moriches, NY, June 24, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 24, 2015, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: East Moriches, NY - Coordinates: 40.824722, -72.750831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8247&lon=-72.7508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91432 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA251 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91432/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91432 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA251 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taking off in a crosswind, which resulted in a collision with a tree. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he departed to the north with a left crosswind. Once the light-sport airplane became airborne, it weathervaned into the wind and veered left of the runway. The airplane's left wing clipped a tree, and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane or engine. He added that it was probably a combination of "not doing enough things" that resulted in the loss of directional control. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 2015, at 1800 eastern daylight time, N84927, an Aeronca 7AC, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a tree on takeoff from Lufker Airport (49N) East Moriches, New York. The sport pilot was seriously injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated by the pilot and registered to a private company. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot stated that he had flown in and out of 49N on several occasions and was familiar with the airport. He said he departed to the north with a left crosswind. Once the airplane became airborne it weather-vaned into the wind and veered to the left of the runway. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane's left wing "grazed" a tree. The airplane then nosed over and impacted the ground, separating the engine from the airframe. Both occupants exited the airplane and there was no post-impact fire. The pilot said there were no pre-mishap mechanical problems with the airplane or engine. Though he wasn't sure why he was unable to avoid colliding with the trees, he did say that it was "probably a combo of not doing enough things" to maintain directional control. Weather at Brookhaven Airport (HWV), Shirley, New York, about 5 miles west of 49N, was reported as wind from 300 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 28 degrees C, dewpoint 13 degrees C, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.97 inches Hg. The pilot held a sport pilot certificate and reported a total of 208 flight hours, of which, 12 hours were in the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84927](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84927-2023-06-21), registration cancelled 2023-06-21, S/N 3649, built 1946 (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: 3649 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 4645 - Engines: Continental A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 22, 2015, 9 hours before - Departed: 49N, East Moriches, NY - Destination: 23N, BAYPORT, NY - Airport: 49N, Lufker, runway N, 2,300 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: serious; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review September 29, 2014; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 208 total, 12 in this make and model, 139 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: HWV, 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 20150624023749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150624023749A), Jun 24, 2015: Aeronca 7AC, East Moriches, NY, Destroyed. Pilot states that he departed the airport with a direct crosswind. He began to drift to the left side of the runway. As he started to correct for the drift, he… ## Other investigations on N84927 (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 NYC69D0139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC69D0139-107781), Sep 1, 1968: Aeronca 7AC (N84927), Whitehouse, NJ, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 24, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91432. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432097&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-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.