# NTSB SEA98LA110: Aeronca 7-AC, N82834, Thompson Falls, MT, June 25, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 1998, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Thompson Falls, MT - Coordinates: 47.560401, -115.440406 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5604&lon=-115.4404&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): 42809 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42809/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA110 ## Probable cause The instructor's inadequate remedial action with the application of excessive brake pressure. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose down, landing - roll - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The pilot of the Aeronca 7AC was applying braking during a practice short-field landing. The instructor pilot in the back seat told her to apply more braking, but she did not apply as much as the instructor thought was appropriate. The instructor therefore elected to apply additional braking, whereupon the aircraft started to nose over. As soon as the nose-over started, the instructor pilot released the brake pressure he had applied, but it was too late to keep the aircraft's nose from hitting the runway and the main gear from lifting off the runway surface. After hitting the runway, the aircraft fell back onto its main landing gear with sufficient force to tear one main gear attach fitting from the fuselage. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 1998, approximately 1230 mountain daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N82834, nosed down into the runway surface during the landing roll at Thompson Falls Airport, Thompson Falls, Montana. The commercial pilot and the flight instructor, were not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight, which had been airborne for about two hours and ten minutes, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot/owner of the aircraft, she was practicing a short field landing when the instructor told her to apply harder braking. When she did not apply as much braking as the instructor felt was appropriate, he elected to apply additional braking. As soon as the additional braking was applied, the aircraft started to roll forward onto its nose. According to the instructor, he released the additional braking as soon as the aircraft started to nose over, but it was too late to keep the aircraft from hitting its nose on the runway and lifting the main gear off the runway surface. The aircraft then fell back onto its gear, ripping one main gear leg attach fitting from the fuselage and damaging the rudder and a wingtip bow. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82834](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82834), registered now, S/N 7AC-1484, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 7-AC - 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: 7AC-1484 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Carol L. Hayes - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 1997 - Departed: THM - Airport: THM, Thompson Falls, runway 25, 4,200 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 442 total, 30 in this make and model, 442 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19980625024219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980625024219A), Jun 25, 1998: Bbavia 7AC, Thompson Falls, MT, Substantial damage. Practicing short field takeoffs flight instructor over applied brakes resluting in a noseover. (-23)aircraft nosed over during landing roll while practicing… 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.