Aeronca 7BCM L-16A N2557B

Summary

On 9 July 1983 at about 19:36 local time, a Aeronca 7BCM L-16A registered N2557B was involved in an accident near Gadsden, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

9 July 1983 at 19:36

Classification

Accident

Location

Gadsden, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Gadsden (GAD)

Coordinates

34.0802, -85.9909

Aircraft

Aeronca 7BCM L-16A

Registration

N2557B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL83FKJ05

2 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A 70 DEGREE DIVE WHILE TAKING PART IN AN AIR SHOW AS A SPOTTER PLANE. THE ACFT HAD DROPPED ONE SMOKE GRENDADE AND WAS ORBITING TO DROP ANOTHER WHEN IT TURNED LEFT AND PITCHED DOWN. ACCORDING TO AN INSPECTION GUIDE FOR THIS ACFT, BOOTS ARE REQUIRED AROUND THE FRONT AND REAR CONTROL STICKS AT THE CABIN FLOOR. WITNESSES STATED THAT BOOTS WERE NEVER INSTALLED IN THIS ACFT. ANOTHER WITNESS SAID HE HELPED THE ACFT OWNER REMOVE BAGGAGE, TOOLS AND SUPPLIES FROM THE ACFT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. ONE BAG OF TOOLS WAS LEFT UNDER THE FRONT SEAT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT TOOLS AND A METAL BOX CONTAINING A 1/4 INCH DRIVE SOCKET SET WERE FOUND AROUND THE FRONT CONTROL STICK YOKE. THE PILOTS BODY WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE CONTROL STICK.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.