- Date
- September 12, 1999, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Worth, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N81800Aeronca 7-AC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 30, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990912047479A
- Case key
- 47477
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 failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll.
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 pilot lost control of the tail wheel equipped airplane during the landing roll. The pilot reported that his approach speed was '55-60,' and the initial touchdown was smooth. The airplane then became airborne a second time. The second touchdown was smooth but to the left of the runway centerline. The airplane veered to the right, exited the right side of the runway, contacted a tree and came to a stop upright. The pilot reported that the winds were calm at the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
On September 12, 1999, at 1115 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7-AC tail wheel-equipped airplane, N81800, was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree while landing at the Sycamore Strip Airport near Fort Worth, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by A&W Aircraft Inc., of Fort Worth, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot (ATP) in the front seat and the commercial pilot in the rear seat were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from Sycamore Strip Airport at 1100.
According to the ATP, the commercial pilot had requested that the ATP "ride in the front seat of N81800 so he could fly from the back seat." The commercial pilot performed the takeoff from the rear seat, and once airborne, handed over control of the airplane to the ATP. The ATP flew for approximately 15 minutes and returned to the airstrip, where he planned on performing a full stop landing on runway 17. The ATP reported that his approach speed was "55-60," and "the aircraft touched down smoothly. [The airplane] became airborne and remained aligned with the centerline." The airplane then touched down a second time, but was five feet left of the runway centerline. The airplane veered to the right, exited the right side of the runway, and the right wing contacted a tree. The airplane turned 180 degrees and came to rest upright. The ATP and the commercial pilot reported that the winds were calm at the time of the accident.
According to the FAA inspector who examined the airplane, the leading edge of the right wing tip exhibited a semi-circular indentation. The right wing was structurally damaged at the fuselage attach point. The right wing spar was cracked and the aft fuselage was buckled.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N81800
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7-AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7AC-423
- Airframe hours
- 2,314
- Engine
- Continental C-85-8, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- A&W Aircraft Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 1999 · 62 hours before
- Departed
- 9F9
- Airport
- 9F9 · Sycamore Strip, runway 17, 3,970 × 30 ft, grass/turf
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
- 55
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 4,476 total · 16 in this make and model · 3,000 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N81800 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.