- Date
- June 20, 1998, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Murphy, ID
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8030PAeronca 7AC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 12, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980620014469A
- Case key
- 42806
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 decision to initiate an aborted landing at an airport where, due to the high density altitude, his aircraft was unable to outclimb the rising terrain that surrounded airport. Factors include a high density altitude and crosswinds.
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
After touching down in a 10 to 15 knot crosswind, the pilot found that the aircraft was moving '...quickly to the right.' He therefore decided to execute a go-around. Although the aircraft successfully lifted off the runway, the high density altitude kept it from outclimbing the surrounding terrain. As the pilot raised the nose of the aircraft in an attempt to keep it climbing over the rising terrain, the aircraft stalled, caught a wing and cartwheeled.
Factual narrative
On June 20, 1998, approximately 0900 mountain daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N8030P, impacted the terrain during an attempted VFR go-around at Murphy Airport, Murphy, Idaho. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by Rocky Mountain Air Service, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, departed Nampa Municipal Airport, Nampa, Idaho, about 30 minutes earlier, and was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and the ELT, which was activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene.
According to the pilot, after touching down in a 10 to 15 knot crosswind, the aircraft "...moved right very quickly." He therefore elected to execute a go-around. After initiating the go-around, the pilot felt that his aircraft was not climbing fast enough to clear the terrain ahead. He therefore made a crosswind turn in order to head in a direction where it appeared the aircraft might be able to successfully clear the terrain. That turn placed the aircraft on a heading where it had an almost direct tailwind of 10 to 15 knots. The strong tailwind resulted in an increased ground speed and therefore an even greater need for an increased climb rate. As the pilot pulled the nose up in an attempt to keep the aircraft climbing, it stalled and the right wing caught the terrain causing the aircraft to cartwheel.
A post-accident calculation determined that the density altitude at the time of the attempted go-around was approximately 4,800 feet.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8030P
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3523
- Airframe hours
- 2,608
- Engine
- Continental A75-8, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Rocky Mountain Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 10, 1998 · 23 hours before
- Departed
- S67 · Nampa, ID
- Destination
- 1U3
- Airport
- 1U3 · Murphy Airport, runway 12, 2,500 × 45 ft, asphalt
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
- 35
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 183 total · 19 in this make and model · 126 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.