# NTSB MKC90LA121: Aeronca 7AC, N83555, Deer River, MN, June 9, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 1990, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Deer River, MN
- Coordinates: 47.329269, -93.789543 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3293&lon=-93.7895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34992
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC90LA121
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34992/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90LA121

## Probable cause

AIRSPEED NOT MAINTAINED AND STALL/SPIN ENCOUNTERED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Forced landing, descent - emergency

## Analysis

THE PVT PILOT SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT ABOUT 150 AGL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISFIRE. HE LOWERED THE NOSE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN NORMALLY, SO HE RE-ESTABLISHED A CLIMB, THEN THE ENGINE QUIT. HE DECIDED TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY AND LAND, BUT SAID THAT HIS AIRSPEED WAS TOO SLOW, AND THE ACFT ENTERED A SPIN. PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE TERRAIN, THE ACFT FLARED AND HIT THE GROUND IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE AIRCRAFT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE THOUGHT HE HAD ABOUT 3 1/2 GALLONS ON FUEL ON BOARD PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. WITNESSES SAID THAT THERE WAS ABOUT 1500 FEET OF USABLE RUNWAY LEFT, WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83555](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83555), registered now, S/N 7AC-2230, 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&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC-2230
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Rhoades, Wayne A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Airport: 9YO, Bowstring, runway 27, 2,398 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 530 total, 50 in this make and model, 530 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: GPZ, 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900609019609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900609019609A), Jun 9, 1990: Bbavia 7AC, Deep River, MN, Destroyed. Reported power loss on initial climb. Stalled,spun,recovered flat prior impact. Cause power loss not reported.

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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