Aeronca 11AC N85825

Summary

On 9 August 1996 at about 21:22 local time, a Aeronca 11AC registered N85825 was involved in an accident near Charlotte, Michigan, 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

9 August 1996 at 21:22

Classification

Accident

Location

Charlotte, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

42.5598, -84.8295

Aircraft

Aeronca 11AC

Registration

N85825

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI96FA290

2 people died.

the pilot's improper use of engine controls (carburetor heat and/or throttle), while making a relatively high speed approach, low pass, and pull-up, which resulted in partial loss of engine power; and failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient airspeed after the partial loss of power, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. The lack of an accelerator pump in the carburetor may have been a related factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had just completed a fly-by down the runway, when the engine had a partial loss of power. Subsequently, the airplane entered a spin and impacted the ground in a steep descent. Control continuity was established. Airframe and engine inspection did not reveal any discrepancies. A witness reported that the airplane was flown down the runway at 90 to 100 mph, at a low power setting, followed by a pull up at the end of the runaway. Bendix Aircraft Carburetor Service Bulletin Number 74 reported that this type of maneuvering, along with an abrupt throttle movement may cause the engine to lose power or quit. The accident airplane's carburetor was not equipped with an accelerator pump. The temperature and dew point were reported to be 77 and 49 degrees, respectively. According to icing probability charts, conditions were conducive to carburetor icing. The carburetor heat control knob was found in the 'off' position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.