- Date
- February 14, 1982, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- New Gloucester, ME
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4393CAeronca 7EC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 14, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820214004119A
- Case key
- 71972
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
The pilot flew the ski equipped aircraft to a frozen lake where he met two friends who were ice fishing. Later, after he visited with his friends and had given each of them a ride in the aircraft, the pilot took off again. After takeoff, the pilot turned back at low altitude and flew over the vicinity of his friends other fishermen saw the pilot wave as he flew by. Several witnesses reported that the pilot was at or below tree level as he flew back over the frozen lake. He was observed to turn toward tall trees at the shoreline, then pull up as if to climb over the trees. Suddenly, the nose dropped and the plane impacted on the ice. The witnesses reported that the engine seemed to operate normally until impact. A canvas pouch with marijuana, hashish, and cocaine was found in the pilot's coat pocket. A toxicological test of the pilot's blood revealed .042 per cent alcohol but no drugs. This test would not have identified marijuana.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4393C
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7EC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 442
- Airframe hours
- 2,681
- Engine
- Continental C-90-12F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Turner Aviation Co. Inc.
- Registered owner
- Turner Aviation Co. Inc.
- Departed
- New Gloucester, ME
- Destination
- New Gloucester, ME
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
- 30
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 95 total · 6 in this make and model · 59 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 81 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.