Aeronca 7AC N81616

Summary

On 13 February 1994 at about 18:45 local time, a Aeronca 7AC registered N81616, operated by Larry T. Councell, was involved in an accident near Dowagiac, Michigan, 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

13 February 1994 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Dowagiac, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Dowagiac Municipal (C91)

Coordinates

41.9795, -86.1100

Aircraft

Aeronca 7AC

Registration

N81616

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Larry T. Councell

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI94LA086

Nobody was injured.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT, THE CROSSWIND, AND SNOW BESIDE THE RUNWAY.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT SAID HE DECIDED TO PRACTICE A TAXI RUN ON RUNWAY 27 BEFORE TAKEOFF. HE SAID THAT DURING THE TAXI RUN, HE APPLIED ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF THE ENGINE POWER, AND THE AIRPLANE'S TAILWHEEL LIFTED OFF THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID THAT WHEN THE TAIL LIFTED OFF, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT TOWARD A (RUNWAY) LIGHT AND A SNOW BANK. HE SAID HE REDUCED POWER AND CORRECTED WITH RUDDER, BUT THEN TO AVOID A COLLISION, HE '. . . LIFTED THE AIRCRAFT OVER . . .' THE SNOWBANK. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT CLEARED (HOPPED OVER) THE SNOWBANK, IT SETTLED INTO SNOW AND NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTH AT 5 TO 10 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 12 KNOTS. HE HAD ONLY ABOUT 6 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.