# NTSB NYC93LA160: Aeronca 7EC, N4306C, Moneta, VA, August 15, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 1993, 11:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Moneta, VA - Coordinates: 37.180435, -79.630653 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1804&lon=-79.6307&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38635 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38635/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA160 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING, RESULTING IN A DEPARTURE FROM THE RUNWAY AND A COLLISION WITH TREES. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT LANDED ON RUNWAY 5 AND LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK TREES. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AFTER THE MAIN GEAR TOUCHED DOWN, THE AIRPLANE IMMEDIATELY SWERVED RIGHT. HE WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN ADEQUATE SPEED TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. ## Factual narrative On Sunday, August 15, 1993, at 1150 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7EC, N4306C, registered to Melvin J. Vorbach, and piloted by Donald R. Vorbach, sustained substantial damage during a landing at the Smith Mountain Lake Airport, Moneta, Virginia. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot was conducting a landing on runway 05. In his report, he stated: After main gear contacted runway 05, immediate skid to right occurred. Lost directional control of aircraft and was unable to regain sufficient speed to become airborne. The pilot reported that the winds were "calm" at the time of the accident. Runway 05 at this airport was 50 feet wide. Mr. Ed Hall, Aviation Safety Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, conducted an examination of the wreckage. In his report, Mr. Hall stated: After leaving RW [runway] 5 approximately 1000 ft from the approach end and contacting pine trees....Aircraft traveled 250 ft and stopped at bottom of hill....gear folded under fuselage....fuselage frame bent aft of RH door....Firewall wrinkled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4306C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4306C), registered now, S/N 7EC306, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7EC - Registry model: [Champion 7EC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7ec) (registry code 21101NM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7EC-306 - Airframe hours: 2155 - Engines: Continental C-90 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Melvin J. Vorbach - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 6, 1993, 29 hours before - Departed: CBE, KEYSER, WV - Destination: W91 - Airport: W91, Smith Mountain Lake, runway 5, 3,050 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 135 total, 24 in this make and model, 89 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## Other investigations on N4306C (1) 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. - [NTSB IAD05LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA011), Nov 10, 2004: Champion 7EC (N4306C), Clarksburg, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inability to operate the airplane's brake pedals which resulted in the loss of aircraft control. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.