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December 9, 1993 · Aeronca BL-7AC · N84903

Circle City, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 9, 1993
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Circle City, AK
Aircraft
Aeronca BL-7AC
Tail Number
N84903
Operator
Kent L Sherman
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC94LA025

THE PILOT IN COMMAND ON VFR FLIGHT TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT HE FLEW THROUGH FOG AT MINUS FIVE DEGREES (-5 F) AND COLLECTED ICE ON WINDSHIELD AND WING LIFT STRUTS. THE AIRCRAFT INADEVERTANTLY ENTERED AN AERODYNAMIC STALL WHEN SLOWED TO APPROACH SPEED AND IMPACTED SHORT OF RUNWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT IN COMMANDS INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH LEAD TO AN INADVERTENT AERODYNAMIC STALL OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ICE FOG AND THE ICING CONDITIONS.

Full Narrative

On December 9, 1993, at 1200 Alaska standard time, an Aeronca 7AC ski-equipped airplane, N84903, stalled in the traffic pattern and crashed at Circle City, Alaska. The airplane had departed North Pole, Alaska, near Fairbanks at 1130 under 14 CFR Part 91, while on a personal flight. No flight plan was filed and it was conducted as a VFR flight in visual meteorological conditions. The private pilot, as sole occupant, was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot told the FAA that he had "flown through some fog" en route and remembered ice built up on his windshield and lift struts during the descent to Circle City. He said that while in the traffic pattern the left wing dropped, he added power and used full opposite aileron, and the right wing fell and the airplane stalled and crashed in the brush near the field. The weather at the field at the time was minus (-5) five degrees (F) with visibility three miles in ice fog. FAA records indicated that the private pilot's medical certificate had expired as of July 1993.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:00 AKST
Nearest AirportCircle City (New) (1nm NNW)
Runway15
Runway Length3000 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAeronca BL-7AC
Tail NumberN84903
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorKent L Sherman
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-90-12F · Reciprocating · 90
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 34 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility3 sm
CeilingOvercast 800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point-6 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data