# NTSB LAX05CA320: Aeronca 7AC, N1938E, Snelling, CA, September 29, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 28, 2005, 18:30 local (Sep 29, 2005, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Snelling, CA - Coordinates: 37.523334, -120.406944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5233&lon=-120.4069&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 62588 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA320 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62588/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA320 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - plowed/furrowed - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during a forced landing in a plowed field. The single engine airplane lost power as the private pilot was flying in the local area, 1,000 feet above the ground during a personal flight. The pilot set up for landing on a plowed field; however, he could not align the landing gear with the plowed rows prior to touchdown, and the airplane nosed over during the landing roll. Post accident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no anomalies. The fuel in the tanks was a mixture of 100 low-lead aviation gasoline and 80 octane fuel. ## Factual narrative On September 28, 2005, at 1830 Pacific daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC airplane, N1938E, nosed over in a field near Snelling, California, during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed for the local area flight, which originated from Oakdale, California, around 1700. According to the pilot's written statement, he was flying the single engine airplane around 1,000 feet above ground level (agl) when the "engine stopped." The pilot elected to direct the airplane toward a plowed field for the forced landing. He attempted to align the landing gear with the plowed rows of dirt, but ran out of altitude. The airplane touched down in the field and impacted the plowed rows at a 45-degree angle. The airplane rolled about 60 feet then nosed over onto its back. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, wing strut, rudder, and propeller. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site, the pilot informed him that the engine kept running, but would not produce full power with throttle movement. He was not sure if it ever completely quit. The pilot also informed the FAA inspector that the airplane utilized a 13-gallon fuel tank, and that he had mixed about 5 gallons of 100 low-lead aviation gasoline that he had left in his fuel tank, with about 8 gallons of 80 octane fuel that he had in a storage can for 6-8 months. The FAA inspector was able to drain about 2 gallons of fuel from the tanks, but did indicate that they had been leaking. He said that he obtained a fuel sample, which was yellow in color. He could find no other anomalies with the airplane or engine after righting the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1938E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1938E), registered now, S/N 7AC-5505, 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 A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-5505 - Airframe hours: 5000 - Engines: Continental A65-8-A75 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Frank Fine - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2005 - Departed: 027, Oakdale, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2005; seat: front; flight hours: 1,450 total, 300 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °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 20050928023459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050928023459A), Sep 28, 2005: Bbavia 7AC, Snelling, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On 9/28/2005, at approximately 1830 hours PDT, Aeronca A7C airplane, N1938E, crashed approximately 2.5 miles south of Snelling, CA. N1938E, owned and… ## Other investigations on N1938E (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX82DA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA233), Jun 24, 1982: Aeronca 7AC (N1938E), Porterville, CA, substantial damage 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.