# NTSB NYC73AN011: Aeronca 7AC, N81637, Culpeper, VA, July 16, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 16, 1972
- Place: Culpeper, VA · CULPEPER, VA
- Location: 38.4703° N, 77.9998° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Culpeper, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4703&lon=-77.9998&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 9, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 166574
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC73AN011
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73AN011

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1052  72/7/16    CULPEPER,VA         AERONCA 7AC         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 62, 408
        TIME - 1430                    N81637              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 276 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CULPEPER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CULPEPER,VA                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        REMARKS- HIT WIRE STRUNG BETWEEN BLDGS LDG ON FRIENDS FARM. PLT SURVEYED FLD SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81637](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81637-1973-09-14), registration cancelled 1973-09-14, S/N 7AC-256, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Culpeper

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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