- Date
- January 2, 1994, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Manila, UT
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4244AAeronca 7BCM
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940102000069A
- Case key
- 41865
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance. Factors include a tailwind, gusts, and a tree just off the departure end of the field used for takeoff.
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.
Analysis
The pilot was attempting a takeoff from an 800 foot long open field when he encountered a gusting quartering tailwind. The aircraft lost airspeed, and its rate of climb decreased just after lift off. This resulted in the aircraft impacting a tree that was just off the departure end of the field.
Factual narrative
On January 2, 1994, at 1500 mountain standard time (MST), an Aeronca 7BCM, N4244A, collided with a tree just after lift-off from a field near Manila, Utah. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, received minor injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which was departing for Rock Springs, Wyoming, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan, and the ELT, which was activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene.
According to the pilot, who was taking off from an 800 foot long open field, he was caught by a gust of quartering tailwind just after lift-off. The aircraft then experienced a decrease in airspeed and a significant decrease in rate of climb. This was followed by the aircraft impacting a tree situated just beyond the departure end of the field.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4244A
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7BCM
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7BCM-48
- Airframe hours
- 724
- Engine
- Continental C-90-12, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Nunn, Marvin T.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Destination
- RKS · Rock Springs, WY
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 876 total · 625 in this make and model · 824 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 25 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.