# NTSB SEA92LA182: Aeronca 7AC, N85425, Miltonfreewater, OR, August 15, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 15, 1992, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Miltonfreewater, OR
- Coordinates: 45.899589, -118.340919 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8996&lon=-118.3409&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42879
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92LA182
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42879/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92LA182

## Probable cause

AN INADVERTENT STALL WHILE MANEUVERING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.  FACTORS INCLUDE LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - terrain condition - rising
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE RECENTLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT FLEW INTO A VALLEY, INITIATED A CLIMB, THEN RECOGNIZED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT CLIMBING RAPIDLY ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE END OF THE VALLEY.  HE ATTEMPTED A COURSE REVERSAL, STALLED, AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N85425](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85425), registered now, S/N 7AC4165 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC-4165
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dwight C. Morgan
- Registered owner: Clifford W. Morgan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2000
- Departed: S95, COLLEGE PLACE, WA
- Destination: S95

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 77 total, 23 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ALW, 20 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 19920815031339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920815031339A), Aug 15, 1992: Bbavia 7AC, Milton Freewate, OR, Substantial damage. Flew into blind canyon. Unable to turn around or outclimb terrain. Put it into trees in level flight.

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.