# NTSB ERA22LA244: Aeronca 7AC, N84583, Monongahela, PA, May 27, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 27, 2022, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Monongahela, PA - Coordinates: 40.218762, -79.819748 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2188&lon=-79.8197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105146 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA244 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105146/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105146 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA244 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, which he had not previously flown. A witness reported that, after takeoff, the airplane pitched up “sharply, then went straight down,” consistent with an aerodynamic stall. The pilot stated that he “assumed” that, during takeoff, the airplane got too slow and stalled, which resulted in impact with trees and terrain. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation; therefore, it is likely that, during the initial climb after takeoff, the pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2022, about 1900 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N84583, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Monongahela, Pennsylvania. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site, witnesses reported that the airplane departed Rostraver Airport (FWQ), Monongahela, Pennsylvania, and was practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings when, after takeoff, the airplane pitched up “sharply, then went straight down.” The pilot stated that he was in the process of purchasing the airplane when the accident occurred. On the day of the accident, he performed several takeoffs and landings at another airport before flying to FWQ to get fuel. The pilot stated that he performed a few takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern at FWQ, and “assumed” that, during the final takeoff, the airplane “got too slow and stalled.” Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that both wings remained attached to the fuselage, with the outboard leading edges impact damaged. The wooden propeller remained attached to the engine; one propeller blade was splintered along the entire span and the other blade was splintered about half its span. Examination of the airplane after recovery revealed continuity of the flight controls to all control surfaces. The engine was examined, and compression and suction were observed on all cylinders. Crankshaft and valvetrain continuity were confirmed when the propeller was rotated by hand. The cylinders were examined with a lighted borescope and no anomalies were noted with the piston faces, cylinder walls, or valves. The magnetos were removed and produced spark on all towers. There were no anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation before the accident. A review of the pilot’s logbooks revealed that he did not have any documented flight experience in the accident airplane make and model. The seller of the airplane stated that the accident flight was the pilot’s first flight in the accident airplane. The pilot’s tailwheel endorsement was completed on April 20, 2022, in an American Champion 7ECA Citabria; however, there was no documented flight time associated with the endorsement. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84583](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N84583), registered now, S/N 7AC-3286, 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: 7AC-3286 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 2182.96 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 2021 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FWQ, Rostraver Airport - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 25, 2022; seat: rear; flight hours: 148.2 total, 0 in this make and model, 40.2 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 10.6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: AFJ, 22 nm away - METAR: KAFJ 272256Z AUTO 21007KT 10SM FEW095 18/14 A2980 RMK AO2 RAE25 SLP086 T01830139 PNO ## 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 20220527009009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220527009009A), May 27, 2022: Aeronca 7AC, Elizabeth, PA, Destroyed. The pilot took off from finleyville airpark (G05) and reportedly proceeded to rostraver airport (fwq) to perform touch and go practice. On climbout from the… ## Other investigations on N84583 (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 CHI83LA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA127), Mar 1, 1983: Aeronca Champion 7AC (N84583), Newberry, MI, destroyed ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105146. 882 MB in all. - Mfr regarding pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14302744&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20No%206120%20LA244-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 552 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14301986&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA244%20FAA%20Statement-Rel.pdf - FAA record of conversation with pilot (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 217 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14302292&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA record of conversation with airplane seller (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14472756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20ROC%20with%20Airplane%20Owner_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination summary (item 5, PDF, 15 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14168230&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary%20LA244-Rel.pdf - Pilot logbook - private pilot (item 6, PDF, 12 pages, 266 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14405224&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook%20-%20Private%20Pilot%20Airplane%20SEL_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot logbook - student pilot (item 7, PDF, 21 pages, 611 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14406666&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook%20-%20Student%20Pilot%20Fixed%20Wing_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photograph (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 722 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14302352&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA244-Rel.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.