Aeronca 7AC N3103E

Summary

On 28 December 1991 at about 19:25 local time, a Aeronca 7AC registered N3103E, operated by John F. Keena, was involved in an accident near Salisbury, Connecticut, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 December 1991 at 19:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Salisbury, Connecticut, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Aeronca 7AC

Registration

N3103E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

John F. Keena

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Simsbury → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC92FA052

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE PERFORMING LOW ALTITUDE AEROBATIC MANEUVERS, RESULTING IN A STALL WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY TO PERFORM THESE MANEUVERS, AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN FIXED WING AIRPLANES.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

SEVERAL WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE PERFORMING LOW ALTITUDE BUZZING AND AEROBATIC MANEUVERS. THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE GROUND AFTER PERFORMING A NOSE HIGH MANEUVER. THE PILOT HAD 170 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME IN FIXED WING AIRPLANES. HE WAS A HELICOPTER PILOT WITH THE U. S. ARMY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.