# NTSB GAA15CA201: Aeronca 7BCM, N81686, Warsaw, MO, July 23, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 23, 2015, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Warsaw, MO - Coordinates: 38.347778, -93.345275 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3478&lon=-93.3453&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Kansas City FSDO (FAA) - NTSB case key (mKey): 91641 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91641/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91641 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA201 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and a collision with terrain. ## 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 7BCM, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2110106), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 7BCM, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2110106), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7BCM, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2110106), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aeronca 7BCM, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2110106), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 7BCM, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110106), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that his 3-point touchdown in the tailwheel equipped airplane was normal, but during the ground roll the airplane started to veer to the right. He attempted to correct with the left rudder, but the airplane departed the runway to the right and impacted a ditch. The pilot reported that his pant leg may have gotten caught on the right heel brake. The fuselage and firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that his 3-point touchdown in the tailwheel equipped airplane was normal, but during the ground roll the airplane started to veer to the right. He attempted to correct with the left rudder, but the airplane departed the runway to the right and impacted a ditch. The pilot reported that his pant leg may have gotten caught on the right heel brake. The fuselage and firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N81686](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N81686), registered now, S/N 7AC-305, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7BCM (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Aeronca 7BCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7bcm) (registry code 2110106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-305 - Year built: 1945 - Airframe hours: 2014 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-190 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 2014 - Departed: EOK, KEOKUK, IA - Destination: RAW, Warsaw, MO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: RAW, Warsaw Muni, runway 36, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 14, 1994; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,400 total, 25 in this make and model, 2,200 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KGLY, 16 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 20150723010749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150723010749A), Jul 23, 2015: Aeronca 7BCM, Warsaw, MO, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed on runway 36. Approximately 450 feet into the landing rollout, the aircraft departed the runway to the right. The aircraft traveled… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91641. 287 KB in all. - Photo 1 – Damage to Fuselage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 1, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431701&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Damage%20to%20Fuselage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – Damage to Firewall (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431702&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Damage%20to%20Firewall%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.