Aeronca 7AC N83796

Summary

On 24 March 1995 at about 20:05 local time, a Aeronca 7AC registered N83796 was involved in an accident near Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 March 1995 at 20:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

30.6799, -88.3001

Aircraft

Aeronca 7AC

Registration

N83796

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bayou la Batre → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL95LA071

2 people were seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL, AND IMPROPER USE OF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL, IN THAT HE MAINTAINED BACK PRESSURE AFTER THE STALL ENTRY, KEEPING THE AIRPLANE IN A STALLED CONDITIONS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING PARALLEL TO THE SHORE LINE AT A LOW ALTITUDE. APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET ABOVE THE WATER, THE PILOT EXECUTED A SHALLOW, ASCENDING LEFT-HAND TURN, WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS A 'CROP DUSTER TURN'. HE STATED THAT TOO MUCH LEFT RUDDER WAS APPLIED, AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND BECAME INVERTED. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND PULLED BACK ON THE STICK, WHICH KEPT THE AIRPLANE STALLED. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE WATER IN A NEAR-VERTICAL ATTITUDE. DURING THE POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION, THE RIGHT AILERON PUSH-PULL ROD WAS DISCOVERED BROKEN BECAUSE OF DOUBLE-BENDING FATIGUE FAILURE. THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE NO CONTROL PROBLEMS, NOR ANY OTHER MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE, PRIOR TO THE STALL. THE SAFETY BOARD BELIEVES THAT THE AILERON ROD BROKE DURING IMPACT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.