Pilot Debrief

AERONCA 7AC near Fort Worth, TX — 2021-08-21

Final reportCEN21FA377
Sign in to save
Date
2021-08-21
Location
Fort Worth, TX, USA
Airport
2TE2
Aircraft
AERONCA 7AC
Registration
N1472E
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s weight and balance limitations and decreased takeoff performance.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s weight and balance limitations and decreased takeoff performance.

NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were departing on a local flight. One witness, a flight instructor, described the takeoff roll as “extra-long” and stated that the airplane “appeared to get slow” during the initial climb. He reported that the airplane started a “roll to the right,” the left wing “fell,” and the airplane stalled and entered a spin from about 100 ft above ground level (agl). A second witness reported that, during the takeoff, the airplane appeared to be “barely climbing.” Near the end of the runway, about 100 ft agl, he observed a “strong right yaw” followed by a gradual left turn. The pilot appeared to lower the nose, then the airplane “rolled hard left,” and entered a spin. The airplane came to rest about 1,100 ft southeast of the departure end of the runway. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of weight and balance information showed that the airplane was likely 225 lbs over its maximum takeoff weight at the time of the accident. Additionally, the density altitude at the time of the accident was about 2,600 ft. Both the overweight condition of the airplane and the density altitude conditions would have resulted in a significant loss of airplane performance, which is consistent with the witness observations of a long takeoff roll and slow rate of climb. It is likely that, during the initial climb, the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at an altitude too low for recovery.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Weight management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked weight and balance before takeoff to avoid overload.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

Related mishaps