Aeronca 7AC N65HM

Summary

On 24 August 2018 at about 19:35 local time, a Aeronca 7AC registered N65HM was involved in an accident near Hanson, Massachusetts, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 August 2018 at 19:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Hanson, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Cranland (28M)

Coordinates

42.0225, -70.8353

Aircraft

Aeronca 7AC

Registration

N65HM

Category

Airplane

Year built

1946

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hanson → Hanson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA18FA230

1 person died.

A loss of engine power due to carburetor icing, the pilot's decision to turn back to the runway shortly after takeoff, and his failure to maintain airspeed during the turn, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, and subsequent aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot and passenger were departing on a local personal flight in the single-engine airplane. Review of airport security video showed the airplane level off about 100 ft above ground level as it passed the departure end of the runway. The airplane then entered a left turn and descended to ground contact. Damage to the propeller blades was consistent with a lack of engine power at the time of impact; however, examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal engine operation. Based on the temperature and dew point about the time of the accident, the conditions were favorable for serious carburetor icing at a glide power setting. Video showed that the airplane operated on the ground at an idle engine power setting for about 7 minutes before takeoff, and it is probable that carburetor ice formed during this time, subsequently resulting in the loss of engine power during the initial climb. Following the loss of power, the pilot attempted to turn back to the runway with insufficient altitude and, during the turn, failed to maintain airspeed, resulting in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall/spin, and impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.