# NTSB SEA98LA057: Aeronca 7-EC, N4382C, Glendive, MT, April 1, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 31, 1998, 18:25 local (Apr 1, 1998, 01:25 UTC)
- Place: Glendive, MT
- Coordinates: 47.759033, -104.669906 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7590&lon=-104.6699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42770
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42770/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA057

## Probable cause

The pilot's delayed remedial action and his inadvertent entry into a ground loop.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

During the landing roll in the tail wheel equipped airplane, the pilot felt that the aircraft was starting to get away from him. He attempted remedial action, but the action was taken too late to keep the aircraft from entering a ground loop.

## Factual narrative

On March 31, 1998, approximately 1825 mountain standard time, an Aeronca 7-EC tail wheel airplane, N4382C, impacted the terrain during the landing roll at Dawson Community Airport, Glendive, Montana. The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the passenger, received substantial damage. The local CFR Part 91 flight, which had been in the air for about 55 minutes, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT transmission.

According to the CFI, he had just landed in a calm wind when the aircraft started to get away from him. He said that he attempted to regain control, but that by the time he applied the remedial action, he was unable to keep the aircraft from ground looping. As the aircraft spun around, the wing hit the ground hard enough to cause substantial damage to the wing structure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4382C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4382C), registered now, S/N 7EC-408, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aeronca 7-EC
- Registry model: [Champion AERONCA 7EC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-aeronca-7ec) (registry code 2110158) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 408
- Airframe hours: 2037
- Engines: Continental C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ron Bouchard
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 1998, 3 hours before
- Departed: GDV
- Airport: GDV, Dawson Community Airport, runway 12, 5,704 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,233 total, 2,245 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19980331005019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980331005019A), Mar 31, 1998: Bbavia 7EC, Glendive, MT, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing and ground looped. (.4)during the landing roll in the tail wheel equipped airplane, the pilot felt that the aircraft was…

## Other investigations on N4382C (1)

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.

- [NTSB SEA70FDA07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA70FDA07), May 2, 1970: Champion 7EC (N4382C), Scobey, MT, substantial damage

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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