Aeronca 7AC N85173

Summary

On 28 May 1990 at about 16:30 local time, a Aeronca 7AC registered N85173 was involved in an accident near Rumford, Maine, 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

28 May 1990 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Rumford, Maine, United States

Nearest airport

Middle Ellis Pond (NONE)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Aeronca 7AC

Registration

N85173

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Byron → Livermore Falls

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC90LA113

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT MADE A STEEP TURN TO AVOID THE SHORE LINE AND INADVERTENTLY STALLED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOTS DECISION TO TAKEOFF WITH A CANOE STRAPPED TO ONE OF THE FLOATS AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN CARRYING A CANOE ON THE FLOATS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STRAPPED A 12 FT CANOE (ESTIMATED WEIGHT 35 LBS) EXTERNALLY TO A FLOAT AND ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF WITH NO WIND. THE LAKE IS APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE LONG AND ORIENTED NORTH/SOUTH. THREE SIDES OF THE LAKE HAVE HIGH TERRAIN. THE TERRAIN TO THE SOUTH IS SWAMPY AND HAS LOW TREES. THE TAKEOFF STARTED AT THE NORTH END AND WAS TO THE SOUTH. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD DIFFICULTY IN GETTING ON THE STEP, USED UP TOO MUCH LAKE SURFACE AND MADE A STEEP TURN TO GO NORTH. HE GOT AIRBORNE WHILE TRAVELING NORTH; HOWEVER HE HAD USED UP TOO MUCH LAKE SURFACE TO CONTINUE, AND MADE A STEEP TURN TO THE LEFT TO GO SOUTH. HE SAID THE WING STALLED AND HE STRUCK THE WATER, RIPPING OFF THE FLOATS. HE SAID THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD TRIED TO FLY WITH A CANOE ON THE FLOATS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.