# NTSB LAX00LA334: Aeronca 7AC, N82107, Paso Robles, CA, September 2, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 2000, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Paso Robles, CA
- Location: 35.6729° N, 120.6271° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PASO ROBLES MUNI (PRB), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6729&lon=-120.6271&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50233
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA334
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50233/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA334

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to brief his passenger about the operation of the controls.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - flight controls - restricted, passenger (cause)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that after touchdown, the airplane swerved to the right and he had no control of the airplane.  He said that he and the passenger determined that the rudder pedal controls failed to respond because the passenger's foot was stuck between the rudder pedals.

## Factual narrative

On September 2, 2000, about 1230 hours Pacific daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N82107, overran the runway edge, and was substantially damaged during landing at Paso Robles, California.  Neither the pilot nor the passenger was injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.  The airplane was operated by the commercial pilot/owner under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  No flight plan was filed.  The flight originated at Paso Robles at an undetermined time.

The initial notification of this accident was not made to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Southwest Regional Communication Center until September 8, 2000, and to the San Jose Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) on September 11, 2000.

The pilot stated to the FSDO inspector that after touchdown, the airplane swerved to the right and he had no control of the airplane.  He said that he and the passenger determined that the rudder pedal controls failed to respond because the passenger's foot was stuck between the rudder pedals.

The pilot reported that weather was not a factor in the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82107](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82107), registered now, S/N 7AC-733, 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 C85-12](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-12) (registry code 17124, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 733
- Airframe hours: 3214
- Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Obbie O. Atkinson
- Registered owner: Bug Smashers Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 2000, 6 hours before
- Departed: PRB, CA
- Airport: PRB, Paso Robles Municipal, runway 31, 4,700 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 76; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,106 total, 66 in this make and model, 2,800 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 185 °F

## 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 20000902009289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000902009289A), Sep 2, 2000: Bbavia 7AC, Paso Robles, CA, No damage. (-23) Pilot stated after touchdown, the a/c swerved to the right and he had no control over the a/c. the pilot stated that he and the passenger determined that…

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.

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