# NTSB SEA98LA165: Aeronca 7BCM, N83803, Vancouver, WA, August 15, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 15, 1998, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Vancouver, WA
- Coordinates: 45.630546, -122.519676 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6305&lon=-122.5197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 43738
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43738/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA165

## Probable cause

The pilots inadequate remedial action, while attempting to recover from an inadvertent activation of the brakes, during the landing-roll.  Factors include the inadvertent brake activation and the rough/uneven runway.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - brakes(normal) - inadvertent activation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

During the landing roll, the aircraft encountered uneven terrain and the pilot's feet moved to a position where his heels inadvertently applied excessive braking.  Because he did not correctly reposition his feet on the rudder/brake assembly, the aircraft subsequently nosed over.

## Factual narrative

On August 15, 1998, approximately 1400 Pacific daylight time, an Aeronca 7BCM, N83803, nosed over during the landing roll at Evergreen Airpark, Vancouver, Washington. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight departed Yelm, Washington, about 1 hour 30 minutes earlier. The flight, which was being operated in visual meteorological conditions, was on a VFR flight plan. There was no report of an ELT activation.

An FAA inspector, who witnessed the accident, stated that the aircraft touched down on the last 1/3 of the 2200 foot runway.  The pilot, who chose to land long because of the traffic behind him at the air show fly-in, stated that his landing was normal until the aircraft encountered a "bump" and a "dip" in the runway surface.  He further stated that, the "tail lifted and my feet rotated around the rudder rods allowing my heels to hit the brakes".  Before the pilot removed his heels from the brakes and repositioned them on the "rudder rods", the aircraft nosed over.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N83803 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Aeronca 7BCM
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2481
- Airframe hours: 3947
- Engines: Continental C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenneth & Candy Leggett
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 1998, 12 hours before
- Departed: WA7, YELM, WA
- Destination: 59S, VANCOUVER, WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 59S, Evergreen, runway 28L, 2,200 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 118 total, 70 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 75 °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).

- [Incident 19980815020989I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980815020989I), Aug 15, 1998: Bbavia 7AC, Vancouver, WA, Substantial damage. Departed from WA72 solo try. Landed long at Evergreen (59S). Applied brakes. Aircraft nosed over. No injuries.

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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