# NTSB ERA19CA002: Champion 7FC, N9855B, Myakka City, FL, October 4, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 4, 2018, 14:05 local (18:05 UTC) - Place: Myakka City, FL - Coordinates: 27.411666, -82.154167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4117&lon=-82.1542&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98414 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19CA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98414/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98414 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19CA002 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7FC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2110124), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7FC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=2110124), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7FC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2110124), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 7FC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110124), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had been working at an off-airport site installing concrete columns and then departed from the site in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. During takeoff from the field, he turned to avoid trees at the end of the field and impacted a concrete column. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. He stated he had experience taking off on grass, but he had not left enough room to gain sufficient altitude for obstacle clearance. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported he had been working at an off-airport site installing concrete columns and was departing from the site in the tailwheel-equipped accident airplane. During takeoff from the field, he turned to avoid trees at the end of the field and impacted a concrete column. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. He stated he had experience taking off on grass, but he had not left enough room to gain sufficient altitude for obstacle clearance. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9855B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9855B-2020-03-18), registration cancelled 2020-03-18, S/N 7FC-349 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7FC (No Series) - Registry model: [Aeronca 7FC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7fc) (registry code 2110124) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7FC-349 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 6100 - Engines: CMI O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 13, 2018 - Departed: Myakka City, FL - Destination: X05, Spring Hill, FL - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 24, 2018; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 745 total, 52 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KSRQ, 22 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 20181004019439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181004019439A), Oct 4, 2018: Aeronca 7FC, Myakka, FL, Substantial damage. On October 04, 2018, at 1405 EST a 1959 Aeronca, model 7FC, N9855B that is registered to [privacy data omitted], hit a concrete column after takeoff rotation… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98414. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469140&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 430 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469141&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469142&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 4, .PDF, 3 photos, 702 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469143&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.