NYC99LA242

NTSB accident investigation · Aeronca 7AC · Brookfield, OH · September 22, 1999

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 22, 1999, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
Place
Brookfield, OH
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N81543Aeronca 7AC
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report August 3, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
47593

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, resulting in an inadvertent stall.

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.

In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - aborted
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in command

Analysis

The pilot stated that he was landing at his private airstrip. He attempted to avoid three deer on the runway, and stalled the airplane onto the runway from about 10 feet in the air. A review of the Safety Board's database revealed that the pilot was involved in a prior accident. In that accident, according to a witness, the pilot stalled the airplane during takeoff. The pilot refused to provide the NTSB Pilot Operator Report during both investigations.

Factual narrative

On September 22, 1999, about 1930 Eastern Daylight Time, an Aeronca 7AC, N81543, was substantially damaged while landing at a private airstrip near Brookfield, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated from another private airstrip near Brookfield, Ohio. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a letter to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot stated:

"On approach to landing at my home base, 3 deer bolted acrost [sp] the end of runway right in front of me. I flared out + the plane stalled + hit the ground from 8' to 10' high. The impact broke gear and plane slid on belly into obstruction on side of runway."

The pilot never reported the accident. A neighbor called the FAA several weeks later, and the Safety Board was notified about the accident on October, 18, 1999. The pilot/owner failed to submit NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/ Operator report form after two written requests.

Examination of the wreckage by a FAA Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The Inspector observed damage to the left wing spar, both main landing gears, and the lower fuselage.

A review of the Safety Board's database revealed that the pilot was involved in a previous accident with the same airplane. On August 24, 1996, the pilot crashed during an attempted takeoff. In that accident, he stated a giant hand, possibly turbulence, threw the airplane around. However, a witness stated that the pilot tookoff in a steep nose high attitude and stalled back onto the ground from about 10 feet in the air. During the accident investigation, the pilot failed to submit the NTSB form after three written requests.

Aircraft

Registration
N81543
Reported as
Aeronca 7AC
Category
Airplane
Serial number
7AC-364
Airframe hours
3,972
Engine
Lycoming O-235, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Joseph E. Williams
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · November 3, 1998 · 36 hours before
Departed
NONE · OH
Destination
NONE · OH
Airport
NONE · Brookfield, runway 30, grass/turf

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
66
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Flight hours
2,000 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
45 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
YNG, 10 nm away