- Date
- August 23, 1999, 19:00 local (Aug 24, 1999, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Helena, AR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4526EAeronca 7DC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990823044989A
- Case key
- 47139
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 student pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's low altitude.
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 student pilot reported he was flying at a low altitude over his house and a nearby field. During a turn, the airplane struck a tree. In his written report to the NTSB, the pilot reported his 'altitude was too low.'
Factual narrative
On August 23, 1999, approximately 1900 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7DC airplane, N4526E, was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree while maneuvering near a private airstrip near Helena, Arkansas. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was registered to Buron Griffin Farms, Inc., of Helena, Arkansas, and operated by the student pilot. The local flight originated from the private airstrip approximately 1830.
In the enclosed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the student pilot reported flying over his house and a rice field heading east. He then made a turn to the west and impacted a "large tree." He added that his "altitude was too low."
The FAA inspector who examined the airplane stated that the wings and the empennage were structurally damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4526E
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7DC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7DC-134
- Engine
- Continental C-85-8, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Tracy O. Griffin
- Registered owner
- Buron Griffin Farms, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- NONE
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
- 17
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 25 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MEM, 42 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.