Aeronca 7AC N4627E

Summary

On 22 February 1989 at about 17:00 local time, a Aeronca 7AC registered N4627E, operated by Nickels, Stephen A, was involved in an accident near Wolf Point, Montana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 February 1989 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Wolf Point, Montana, United States

Coordinates

48.2791, -105.6606

Aircraft

Aeronca 7AC

Registration

N4627E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Nickels, Stephen A

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Nashua → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN89LA079

Nobody was injured.

THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT IN A TIMELY MANNER WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION THE PILOT MADE AFTER TAKING OFF AND FLYING THROUGH FOG DUE TO HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON A PRACTICE FLIGHT NEAR HIS RANCH STRIP. THE PLT SAID HE TOOK OFF THROUGH 'LIGHT' FOG AND AFTER CRUISING FOR 20 MINUTES, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE RPM AND POWER. FULL CARBURETOR HEAT AND FULL THROTTLE FAILED TO MAINTAIN ENGINE POWER. THE PLT SAID HE SELECTED A SNOW COVERED STUBBLE FIELD FOR A FORCED LANDING AND AT TOUCHDOWN THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ENTERED 12 INCHES OF CRUSTED SNOW AND THE PLANE NOSED OVER. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION BY AN A&P MECHANIC FAILED TO REVEAL EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED LOSS OF RPM. DURING AN ENGINE RUN THE ENGINE PERFORMED NORMALLY. OUTSIDE SURFACE AIR TEMP WAS REPORTED AS ZERO DEGS F AND THE DEWPOINT WAS -4 DEGS F.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.