DOWAGIAC, MI, USA
N81616
AERONCA 7AC
THE PILOT SAID HE DECIDED TO PRACTICE A TAXI RUN ON RUNWAY 27 BEFORE TAKEOFF. HE SAID THAT DURING THE TAXI RUN, HE APPLIED ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF THE ENGINE POWER, AND THE AIRPLANE'S TAILWHEEL LIFTED OFF THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID THAT WHEN THE TAIL LIFTED OFF, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT TOWARD A (RUNWAY) LIGHT AND A SNOW BANK. HE SAID HE REDUCED POWER AND CORRECTED WITH RUDDER, BUT THEN TO AVOID A COLLISION, HE '. . . LIFTED THE AIRCRAFT OVER . . .' THE SNOWBANK. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT CLEARED (HOPPED OVER) THE SNOWBANK, IT SETTLED INTO SNOW AND NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTH AT 5 TO 10 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 12 KNOTS. HE HAD ONLY ABOUT 6 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.
On February 13, 1994, at 1345 eastern standard time (est), an Aeronca 7AC, N81616, registered to John C. Amundson of Hartford, Michigan, and piloted by a commercially certificated pilot, was substantially damaged during its takeoff roll on Runway 27 (4,700' X 100' dry asphalt) at the Dowagiac Municipal Airport, Dowagiac, Michigan. The airplane collided with a snowbank and nosed over. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating under a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Dowagiac, Michigan, at 1342 est. According to the pilot's written statement on NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he decided to practice taxiing before flight. During the taxi practice, the pilot said he applied about 50 percent power and "...full aileron deflection..." to the left. The pilot said that shortly after doing this the tailwheel lifted off the runway surface and the airplane veered to the right. The pilot stated the wind was coming from approximately 180 degrees and had a speed between five and ten knots with gusts to twelve knots. The pilot said he reduced power and "...attempted to correct with rudder..." as the airplane headed for a snowbank at the runway's edge. He stated he "...lifted the aircraft over..." the snowbank As the airplane cleared the snowbank, the pilot said it settled into snow and nosed over.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT, THE CROSSWIND, AND SNOW BESIDE THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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