# NTSB GAA18CA257: Aeronca 7AC, N83581, Warrenton, VA, May 6, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 6, 2018, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Warrenton, VA - Coordinates: 38.586387, -77.710556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5864&lon=-77.7106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97186 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA257 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97186/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97186 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA257 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the takeoff initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); 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) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); 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. - [Takeoff: 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 According to the flight instructor in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, the purpose of flight was to provide a "proficiency check" for the pilot in the front seat. The pilot was on the controls and landed the airplane after accomplishing one pattern. During the subsequent takeoff, about 5 ft above ground level, the airplane's right wing "went down," and the pilot applied left stick, but the airplane struck the ground. During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the instructor reported that he believed that the airspeed was too slow during the takeoff climb and that the airplane stalled. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift struts. The METAR at the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 20° at 4 knots. The pilots used runway 15. The pilot and instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the flight instructor in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, the purpose of flight was to provide a "proficiency check" for the pilot in the front seat. The pilot was on the controls and had landed the airplane after accomplishing one pattern. During the takeoff, about 5ft AGL, the airplane's right-wing "went down" and the pilot applied left stick, but the airplane struck the ground. During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-in-charge, the instructor reported that he believed that the airspeed was too slow during the takeoff climb and that the airplane stalled. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift struts. The METAR at the airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was reported as being from 02° at 4 knots. The pilots used runway 15. The pilot and instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83581](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83581), registered now, S/N 7AC-2257, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC (NO SERIES) - 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-2257 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 5083.61 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 2017 - Departed: HWY, Warrenton, VA - Destination: HWY, Warrenton, VA - Airport: HWY, Warrenton-Fauquier, runway 15, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 76; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 23, 2016; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,450 total, 63 in this make and model, 3,355 as pilot in command, 163 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 3, 2017; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 339 total, 17 in this make and model, 247 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KHWY ## 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 20180506004779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180506004779A), May 6, 2018: Aeronca 7AC, Midland, VA, Substantial damage. On may 6, 2018, at approximately 1030, a private pilot receiving tailwheel training in an Aeronca 7AC (N83581), landed on runway 15 at warrenton fauquier… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97186. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466934&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, CFI (item 2, .PDF, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466935&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20CFI-Master.PDF - Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466936&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.