- Date
- April 15, 2006, 11:50 local (15:50 UTC)
- Place
- Haverhill, NH
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N82320Aeronca 7AC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 29, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20060415012229A
- Case key
- 63498
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 flight instructor's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent impact with a sign.
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
During departure from runway 19, a 2,500-foot long, by 60-foot wide runway, the airplane "experienced difficulty climbing." When the flight instructor realized the airplane would not be able to clear trees at the end of the runway, he performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane impacted a sign, resulting in substantial damage. The flight instructor reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane, and additionally stated that the wind conditions were "gusty" at the time of takeoff. He reported that the maximum gross weight of the airplane was 1,220 pounds, and the airplane weight at the time of the accident was 1,171 pounds. He stated the accident could have been prevented if "only one person was onboard the airplane, as the horsepower was marginal with two people onboard." He also stated that he should have been more aware of the changing wind conditions. The closest recorded weather observation, from an airport 27 miles to the northwest, included winds from 230 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 21 knots.
Factual narrative
During departure from runway 19, a 2,500-foot long, by 60-foot wide runway, the airplane "experienced difficulty climbing." When the flight instructor realized the airplane would not be able to clear trees at the end of the runway, he performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane impacted a sign, resulting in substantial damage. The flight instructor reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane, and additionally stated that the wind conditions were "gusty" at the time of takeoff. He reported that the maximum gross weight of the airplane was 1,220 pounds, and the airplane weight at the time of the accident was 1,171 pounds. He stated the accident could have been prevented if "only one person was onboard the airplane, as the horsepower was marginal with two people onboard." He also stated that he should have been more aware of the changing wind conditions. The closest recorded weather observation, from an airport 27 miles to the northwest, included winds from 230 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 21 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N82320
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7AC-949
- Airframe hours
- 2,472
- Engine
- Continental A-65, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Upper Valley Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 1, 2005
- Departed
- 2B9 · Post Mills, VT
- Destination
- 2B9
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 1, 2005
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 200 in this make and model · 4,000 as pilot in command
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2000
- Seat
- Front
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 11 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.42 inHg
- Observed at
- MPV, 27 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.