Aeronca 7AC N83589

Summary

On 22 December 1997 at about 20:12 local time, a Aeronca 7AC registered N83589, operated by Mid Florida Air Service, was involved in an accident near Eustis, Florida, 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 December 1997 at 20:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Eustis, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Mid Florida Air Service (X55)

Coordinates

28.9201, -81.4906

Aircraft

Aeronca 7AC

Registration

N83589

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Mid Florida Air Service

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL98LA028

Nobody was injured.

failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground swerve and subsequent collision with a parked airplane. Related factors were: the pilot's lack of experience in tailwheel aircraft, the crosswind, and the proximity of the parked airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that this was his second solo flight in a tailwheel airplane. There was a 45 degree crosswind from the right at 8 knots. According to the pilot, while rolling out, the airplane struck a runway light on the right side of the runway. The right gear collapsed during the collision, and the airplane veered off the runway to the right, striking another airplane parked on the ramp. An FAA inspector stated the landing gear strut failed during collision with the parked airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.