- Date
- June 25, 1996, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Callahan, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N84538Aeronca 7AC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 4, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960625015119A
- Case key
- 38035
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's premature decision to reduce power, following application of carburetor heat, when engine operation became rougher after experiencing roughness due to carburetor icing. The weather (carburetor icing) conditions and carburetor ice were related factors.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While in cruise flight at 1,200 feet, the engine began to run rough. The pilot applied carburetor heat, and the engine roughness became worse. He immediately selected a field and began an approach for an emergency landing. During landing rollout in the field, the pilot made a turn to the left to slow the aircraft, and the right main landing gear collapsed. After the accident, the engine was started and operated to full power with no evidence of failure or malfunction. The carburetor heat operated normally during the postaccident engine run. The temperature and dew point were reported to be 95 and 73 degrees, respectively. According to icing probability charts, conditions were conducive to carburetor ice.
Factual narrative
On June 25, 1996, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Aeronca 7AC, N84538, registered to a private owner, sustained damage when the right main gear collapsed during a forced landing in a field near Callahan, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Jacksonville, Florida, the same day about 1630.
The pilot stated that while in cruise flight at 1,200 feet, the engine began to run rough. The engine oil pressure and oil temperature were normal. He applied carburetor heat and the engine roughness got worse. He immediately selected a field and began his approach to the field for a forced landing. While approaching the field he observed fence posts in his path and extended the approach to avoid them. After touchdown he turned the aircraft to the left in an attempt to spin the aircraft around and stop. The right main landing gear hit something, collapsed, and folded under the aircraft. The aircraft slid to a stop.
After the accident the engine was started in the presence of an FAA inspector and operated to full power with no evidence of failure or malfunction. The carburetor heat operated normally.
Carburetor icing probability curves indicate the aircraft was operating in conditions conducive to visible icing at glide and cruise power at the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N84538
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7AC-3241
- Airframe hours
- 2,200
- Engine
- Continental A-65-8F, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Craig T. Steele
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 14, 1995 · 60 hours before
- Departed
- 23J · Jacksonville, FL
- Destination
- 01J · Hilliard, FL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 700 total · 190 in this make and model · 600 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 95 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JAX, 10 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N84538 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.