# NTSB SEA95FA072: Aeronca 7AC, N85094, Brush Prairie, WA, March 31, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: March 30, 1995, 16:01 local (Mar 31, 1995, 00:01 UTC) - Place: Brush Prairie, WA - Coordinates: 45.730777, -122.449058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7308&lon=-122.4491&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42048 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95FA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42048/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95FA072 ## Probable cause UNDETERMINED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT RETURNED FROM A 45 MINUTE RENTAL FLIGHT AT APRX 1545, WENT TO THE BATHROOM, AND THEN TOOK THE AIRCRAFT OUT AGAIN, INDICATING THAT HE PLANNED TO STAY IN THE PATTERN AND RETURN BY THE 1600 DEADLINE BEFORE THE NEXT RENTER'S SCHEDULED DEPARTURE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DEPARTED THE PATTERN AND WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A STEEP, NEAR 90 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE NOT FAR FROM THE DERPARTURE AIRPORT. NO AIRFRAME/POWERPLANT MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE PATHOLOGIST REPORTED THAT THE PATTERNS OF INJURY WERE 'CONSISTENT WITH THE DECEASED BEING CONSCIOUS AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH' AND 'INCONSISTENT WITH AN INDIVIDUAL BEING INCAPACITATED.' ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 30, 1995, approximately 1601 hours Pacific standard time, an Aeronca 7AC, N85094, operated by Evergreen Flying Service, Inc., and being flown by a commercial pilot, was destroyed during collision with terrain following a descent from cruise. The aircraft crashed in a field near Brush Prairie, Washington, and the pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteo- rological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and initially departed the Evergreen Airport, Vancouver, Washington, approximately 1500 hours. A flight instructor at Evergreen Flying Service reported that the pilot returned to the Evergreen airport approximately 1545 and went to the bathroom. The aircraft was scheduled to be flown by an FAA inspector at 1600 but the pilot indicated that he was going to take the aircraft back out again for the final 10 minutes of flight and remain in the traffic pattern. After takeoff the aircraft then departed the pattern and flew north. Three witnesses, all driving in vehicles at the time of the accident reported observing the aircraft. One witness reported observing the aircraft approximately 500 feet above ground heading in a northwesterly direction when it entered a steep nose down attitude. A second witness reported seeing the aircraft heading southeasterly when it started a nosedive in an arc towards the ground. He reported that the aircraft was travelling straight down and fast when he lost sight of it. A third witness reported seeing the aircraft nosedive before he lost sight of it (from Clark County Sheriff's Office report Case number 95-5885). PERSONNEL INFORMATION No flight time history was found for the 77 year old pilot other than a total of 4600 hours reported at his last medical examination on August 27, 1993. He reported a total of 20 hours in the six months previous to this date. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION On site examination was conducted by an FAA inspector from the Hillsboro Flight Standards District Office. He reported that the aircraft crashed in an open field (refer to CHART I). The surface was reported as soft and the engine was imbedded up to the firewall in the soil and heavily telescoped. The wreckage was verbally released to the FAA and subsequently removed to the operator's facility at the Evergreen airport. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION Post mortem examination was conducted by Archie Hamilton, M.D., on March 31, 1995, at the facilities of the Clark County Coroner, PO Box 5000, 3400 Main Street, Vancouver, Washington, 98668. The pathologist reported that the pilot's watch had stopped at 1601. The pathologist reported that "The patterns of injury are consistent with the deceased being conscious at the time of the crash" and "The pattern of injuries of the hands and arms and the partially avulsed left heel, are inconsistent with an individual being incapacitated at the time of the crash." Toxicological examination of samples from the pilot was conducted by the FAA's Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory. No carbon monoxide, cyanide or ethanol was found. A small amount of salicylate (aspirin) was detected in urine (refer to attached report). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The wreckage was examined April 13, 1995, at the facilities of the operator by a Safety Board investigator. No control surface malfunction was found. The engine was also disassembled and inspected and no evidence of mechanical malfunction was noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N85094](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N85094-2023-06-03), registration cancelled 2023-06-03, S/N 7AC3824, 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: 7AC3824 - Airframe hours: 2438 - Engines: CONTINENTAL A65-8-F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Olson, Waldo, S. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 10, 1995, 18 hours before - Departed: 59S, VANCOUVER, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,600 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 7 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PDX, 8 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 19950331006499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950331006499A), Mar 31, 1995: Bbavia 7AC, Brush Prairie, WA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Observed to dive into terrain after departing airport. No incompacitation or mechanical problems. Indicates stall. 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.