# NTSB LAX95LA093: Aeronca 7AC, N83981, Big Bear City, CA, February 2, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 2, 1995, 09:18 local (17:18 UTC) - Place: Big Bear City, CA - Coordinates: 34.25988, -116.839797 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2599&lon=-116.8398&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 21, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29021 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29021/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA093 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FR0M A BOUNCED LANDING, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED IN UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS FOR AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND (ABORTED LANDING), WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/MUSH AND A DRAGGED WINGTIP. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN CONVENTIONAL GEAR (TAILWHEEL) AIRCRAFT, UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE BOUNCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - attempted, pilot in command - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS ON HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT IN A CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRPLANE, PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS ON A SNOW COVERED RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT AFTER TWO LANDINGS IN CALM AIR, THE WEATHER UNEXPECTEDLY CHANGED, AND HE ENCOUNTERED GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. ON THE THIRD LANDING, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND EXITED THE RUNWAY. A GROUND WITNESS SAID THAT THE PILOT APPLIED POWER AND INITIATED A GO-AROUND; HOWEVER, MOMENTARILY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE RIGHT WING DROPPED AND STRUCK THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE THEN SPUN AROUND AND CAME TO REST WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ## Factual narrative On February 2, 1995, at 0918 hours Pacific standard time, an Aeronca 7AC, N83981, crashed shortly after taking off on runway 26 at Big Bear City Airport, Big Bear City, California. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules personal flight and was practicing takeoffs and landings. The airplane, registered to and operated by the student pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed Big Bear City Airport at an undetermined time. The pilot told a San Bernardino County Sheriff deputy that the airplane bounced during the landing. He said that he was unable to arrest the bounced landing and the airplane exited the runway. A ground witness told the deputy that the airplane landed normally on the snow-covered runway, but during the landing roll, the airplane "got squirrely" and the airplane veered off the north side of the runway. The pilot applied power and initiated a takeoff. The airplane momentarily became airborne, but its right wing dropped and struck the ground. The airplane spun to the right and came to rest on the ground. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations inspector from the Riverside (California) Flight Standards District Office said the pilot was conducting his first solo flight in conventional gear airplanes. The accident occurred on the third landing. The pilot said in the aircraft accident report that on the third landing the winds unexpectedly changed and he was unable to avoid stalling the airplane at 30 feet above the ground. The airplane landed hard on the median area north of the runway and south of the taxiway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83981](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83981), registered now, S/N 7AC2667 (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&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-2667 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Francis E. Linhart - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: L-35 - Airport: L35, Big Bear City, runway 26, 5,850 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 913 total, 5 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: L35 ## 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 19950202001769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950202001769A), Feb 2, 1995: Bbavia 7AC, Big Bear, CA, Substantial damage. Bounced on landing. Began go around. Lifted then settled. Right wing hit a plane. Cartwheeled. First solo in plane. 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.