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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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February 14, 1982 · Aeronca 7EC · N4393C

New Gloucester, ME

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 14, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
New Gloucester, ME
Aircraft
Aeronca 7EC
Tail Number
N4393C
Operator
Turner Aviation
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC82FNC04

The pilot flew the ski equipped aircraft to a frozen lake where he met two friends who were ice fishing. Later, after he visited with his friends and had given each of them a ride in the aircraft, the pilot took off again. After takeoff, the pilot turned back at low altitude and flew over the vicinity of his friends. Other fishermen saw the pilot wave as he flew by. Several witnesses reported that the pilot was at or below tree level as he flew back over the frozen lake. He was observed to turn toward tall trees at the shoreline, then pull up as if to climb over the trees. Suddenly, the nose dropped and the plane impacted on the ice. The witnesses reported that the engine seemed to operate normally until impact. A canvas pouch with marijuana, hashish, and cocaine was found in the pilot's coat pocket. A toxicological test of the pilot's blood revealed .042 per cent alcohol but no drugs. This test would not have identified marijuana.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT FLEW THE SKI EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT TO A FROZEN LAKE WHERE HE MET TWO FRIENDS WHO WERE ICE FISHING. LATER, AFTER HE VISITED WITH HIS FRIENDS AND HAD GIVEN EACH OF THEM A RIDE IN THE AIRCRAFT, THE PILOT TOOK OFF AGAIN. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT TURNED BACK AT LOW ALTITUDE AND FLEW OVER THE VICINITY OF HIS FRIENDS OTHER FISHERMEN SAW THE PILOT WAVE AS HE FLEW BY. SEVERAL WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT WAS AT OR BELOW TREE LEVEL AS HE FLEW BACK OVER THE FROZEN LAKE. HE WAS OBSERVED TO TURN TOWARD TALL TREES AT THE SHORELINE, THEN PULL UP AS IF TO CLIMB OVER THE TREES. SUDDENLY, THE NOSE DROPPED AND THE PLANE IMPACTED ON THE ICE. THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SEEMED TO OPERATE NORMALLY UNTIL IMPACT. A CANVAS POUCH WITH MARIJUANA, HASHISH, AND COCAINE WAS FOUND IN THE PILOT'S COAT POCKET. A TOXICOLOGICAL TEST OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD REVEALED .042 PER CENT ALCOHOL BUT NO DRUGS. THIS TEST WOULD NOT HAVE IDENTIFIED MARIJUANA.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:45 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAeronca 7EC
Tail NumberN4393C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorTurner Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-90-12F · Reciprocating · 90
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 30 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 7 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data