Sunday, July 06, 2014

Aeronca 7CCM Champion, N82442: Accident occurred July 05, 2014 in Prentiss, Mississippi

NTSB Identification: ERA14LA332
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, July 05, 2014 in Prentiss, MS
Aircraft: AERONCA 7CCM, registration: N82442
Injuries: 2 Minor,1 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On July 5, 2014, about 1130 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7CCM, N82442, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight near Prentiss, Mississippi. The private pilot and one passenger incurred minor injuries, while a second passenger was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the planned local flight. The flight originated from Prentiss County Airport (M43), Prentiss, Mississippi, about 0930.

The pilot reported that he completely filled the fuel tanks prior to departing. Toward the end of the approximate 2 hour flight, the engine suddenly lost all power without warning. He switched from the header fuel tank to the right main fuel tank. He also set up for a forced landing to a hayfield as the rest of the nearby terrain was wooded. Just prior to landing, the engine regained power for approximately 3 seconds and then lost all power again. The momentary gain in power placed the airplane on a high glidepath for the hayfield. The pilot did not want to risk landing in the surrounding trees and stalled the airplane as he was maneuvering to land in the hayfield. After the accident, he confirmed there was fuel in the header fuel tank and right wing fuel tank. He did not know why the engine lost all power. The airplane was not insured and the pilot planned to scrap it. As such, he had no planes to further troubleshoot why the engine lost all power.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that during the impact, the right main landing gear separated and the right wing partially collapsed downward. The airplane was utilizing automobile gasoline, which was approved by a supplemental type certificate. The inspector noted that the header fuel tank was compromised during the impact and did not contain fuel. The right wing fuel tank was intact and contained fuel. The airplane was not equipped with a left wing fuel tank. Due to the disposition of the wreckage (right gear and wing collapse), the inspector was only able to rotate the propeller about 90 degrees before ground contact, but did not note any mechanical binding. He was also not able to access the fuel bowl. The inspector added that a rear seat passenger was carrying her 5-year-old son on her lap. The pilot and adult passenger received lacerations. The son was not injured.



 PRENTISS, MS (WDAM) - Three people were injured in Jefferson Davis County around noon when their single-engine plane crashed in a field near the Covington County line. The pilot, Sammy Glen Hooks of Collins, Kristie Wade, 37, of Collins and her son, Connor Wade, 5, were injured in the crash. 

All three were taken by private vehicle to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and the pilot and Connor Wade have been released from the hospital.

Authorities said the plane took off from an airstrip in Prentiss.  A witness said it came in low over a tree line and bounced once, losing a wheel before coming to a stop. 


Read more here:  http://www.wdam.com

http://registry.faa.gov/N82442

1 comment:

  1. 1946 AERONCA 7CCM is a tandem-seat 2-place aircraft. N82442 reportedly had 3 pax. From the pic, all were fortunate to have survived.

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