Aeronca 7DC N81868

Summary

On 13 November 2005 at about 21:40 local time, a Aeronca 7DC registered N81868, operated by William G. Henderson, was involved in an accident near Saginaw, Texas, United States. 2 people were 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 November 2005 at 21:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Saginaw, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Hicks Field (T67)

Coordinates

32.9311, -97.4117

Aircraft

Aeronca 7DC

Registration

N81868

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

William G. Henderson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Saginaw → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW06CA029

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor's delayed remedial action. Contributing factors were the gusty winds.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot at the controls of the tailwheel-equipped airplane lost control of the vintage airplane during the takeoff roll from Runway 32. The 1,278-hour flight instructor reported that a gust of wind caused the airplane to veer to the right, and the student pilot corrected by applying left rudder, but when the gust of wind dissipated there was excessive left rudder input. The flight instructor reported that he took control of the airplane as the airplane was departing the left side of the runway to attempt to recover the airplane; however, the student pilot closed the throttle, which decreased the airplane's rudder authority. The airplane then impacted a 3-foot berm just short of the PAPI for runway 32. Wind conditions at an airport 6-nautical miles to the east of the accident site reported winds from 030 degrees at 15 knots at the approximate time of the accident. The flight instructor reported winds from 8 to 15 knots at the time of the mishap. Runway 32 was reported to be 3,740-foot long, by 60-foot wide. The flight instructor reported having accumulated 520 hours in the same make and model airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.