# NTSB NYC98LA031: Aeronca 7AC, N83101, Tiverton, OH, November 23, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 23, 1997, 11:04 local (16:04 UTC) - Place: Tiverton, OH - Coordinates: 40.470108, -82.189483 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4701&lon=-82.1895&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Status: Completed, report April 15, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39504 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39504/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA031 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to properly set the airplane controls prior to hand propping. Factors in the accident were the pilot's failure to properly chock the wheels and his decision to leave the cockpit unmanned during start. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, standing - starting engine(s) - powerplant controls - not set, pilot in command (cause) - condition(s)/step(s) in error, pilot in command (contributing factor) - improper decision, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis During final approach to landing, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power. He completed the landing to the runway and taxied to the infield to attempt a restart. The pilot placed one wheel chock in front of the right main gear, set the engine power controls, and attempted the restart by hand propping. After the second attempt, the pilot released the propeller and stepped away from the airplane. The airplane's engine backfired, started, and the airplane departed the airport unmanned. The airplane flew 1 hour and 48 minutes until it lost engine power, descended, and crashed into a bean field. ## Factual narrative On November 23, 1997, at 1104 eastern standard time, an Aeronca 7AC, N83101, was substantially damaged during landing near Tiverton, Ohio. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the unmanned flight that originated at Urbana, Ohio, at 0916. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a report from the Urbana Police Department, the pilot landed on Runway 23 at Grimes Field Airport (I74), Urbana, Ohio. The airplane's engine stalled, and the pilot taxied the airplane to a grassy area to attempt a restart. According to the report: "[The pilot] attempted to restart the aircraft by hand-propping the propeller, standing to the side of the single propeller. After 4 or 5 attempts, [the pilot] turned the ignition off and turned the propeller in reverse to remove any excess fuel and then attempted to restart the plane again. The plane's engine reportedly backfired and started as [the pilot] began walking away from the aircraft. The airplane began travelling eastbound through the airfield nearly striking a plane taking off on the runway, and a nearby hangar as it became airborne...[The airplane] started circling the interior of the field at low altitude, then flew out of the airport traffic area travelling east." A private citizen in his airplane followed N83101 from Urbana, to Marysville, Ohio. The Ohio State Police monitored the remainder of the flight from a helicopter. The police report further stated: "The State Highway Patrol tracked the aircraft near Delaware, Ohio, at 10,000 feet above ground level and observed the aircraft climb to 12,000 feet into Coshocton County, Ohio, where the aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed in a bean field..." The airplane flew unmanned for 1 hour and 48 minutes and the certificated private pilot was not injured. In a written statement, the pilot said he attempted the restart to taxi the airplane from the infield to the parking apron at I74. Prior to the restart, he placed one wheel chock in front of the right main landing gear. In the NTSB Form 6120. 1/2 Recommendation Section (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented), the pilot stated: "Trim set full forward (Down) and qualified 'taildragger' pilot inside of aircraft." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83101](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83101), registered now, S/N 7AC-1758, 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-1758 - Airframe hours: 3140 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert W. Cook - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1997, 90 hours before - Departed: I74, URBANA, OH - Airport: I74, Grimes Field, runway 23, 3,474 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 913 total, 114 in this make and model, 797 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 8 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAY, 95 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 19971123034289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971123034289A), Nov 23, 1997: Bbavia 7AC, Urbana, OH, Destroyed. At I74 hand started 7AC. It took off sans pilot climbed to FL120. Ran out of fuel after airborne nearly 2HRS. (-23) on November 30, 1997 Mr. Sirks attempted to… 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.