# NTSB LAX90LA318: Aeronca 7AC, N84941, Trona, CA, September 7, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 6, 1990, 17:00 local (Sep 7, 1990, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Trona, CA
- Coordinates: 35.729007, -117.360633 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7290&lon=-117.3606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26918
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA318
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26918/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA318

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND AN ABRUPT MANUEVER WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND SPIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOW ALTITUDE OF THE AIRPLANE WHICH DID NOT ALLOW ADEQUATE TIME TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY REMEDIAL ACTIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - maneuver - abrupt, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE PULL UP SHARPLY. THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN OBSERVED IN A RIGHT TURN. THE WITNESSES INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS TOO LOW AND TOO SLOW AND THAT IT STALLED AS THEY MADE THE TURN. THE WITNESS ALSO INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE SPUN ABOUT 3/4 OF A REVOLUTION BEFORE DESCENDING FROM VIEW.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N84941](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84941-1991-08-16), registration cancelled 1991-08-16, S/N 7AC3663 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC3663
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C85 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aasgard, Lewis
- Registered owner: Lew Aasgard
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 1990, 2 hours before
- Airport: runway 35, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,544 total, 80 in this make and model, 1,508 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19900906038779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900906038779A), Sep 6, 1990: Bbavia 7AC, Trona, CA, Destroyed. Made steep pullup and steep turn on climbout. Stalled and spun in.

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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