# NTSB NYC99LA242: Aeronca 7AC, N81543, Brookfield, OH, September 22, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 22, 1999, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Brookfield, OH
- Coordinates: 41.229198, -80.529502 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2292&lon=-80.5295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47593
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA242
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47593/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA242

## Probable cause

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

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Aeronca 7AC
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC-364
- Airframe hours: 3972
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 66; 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

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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