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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 15, 1993 · Aeronca 7EC · N4306C

Moneta, VA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 15, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Moneta, VA
Aircraft
Aeronca 7EC
Tail Number
N4306C
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC93LA160

THE PILOT LANDED ON RUNWAY 5 AND LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK TREES. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AFTER THE MAIN GEAR TOUCHED DOWN, THE AIRPLANE IMMEDIATELY SWERVED RIGHT. HE WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN ADEQUATE SPEED TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING, RESULTING IN A DEPARTURE FROM THE RUNWAY AND A COLLISION WITH TREES.

Full Narrative

On Sunday, August 15, 1993, at 1150 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7EC, N4306C, registered to Melvin J. Vorbach, and piloted by Donald R. Vorbach, sustained substantial damage during a landing at the Smith Mountain Lake Airport, Moneta, Virginia. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot was conducting a landing on runway 05. In his report, he stated: After main gear contacted runway 05, immediate skid to right occurred. Lost directional control of aircraft and was unable to regain sufficient speed to become airborne. The pilot reported that the winds were "calm" at the time of the accident. Runway 05 at this airport was 50 feet wide. Mr. Ed Hall, Aviation Safety Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, conducted an examination of the wreckage. In his report, Mr. Hall stated: After leaving RW [runway] 5 approximately 1000 ft from the approach end and contacting pine trees....Aircraft traveled 250 ft and stopped at bottom of hill....gear folded under fuselage....fuselage frame bent aft of RH door....Firewall wrinkled.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:50 EDT
Nearest AirportSmith Mountain Lake (0nm)
Runway5
Runway Length3050 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAeronca 7EC
Tail NumberN4306C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-90 · Reciprocating · 90
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 44 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data