AERONCA 7BCM (L-16A) — Auburn, WY, 2015

AERONCA 7BCM (L-16A) — Auburn, WY

2 fatal High-time pilot

Date	July 22, 2015
Location	Auburn, WY
Aircraft	AERONCA 7BCM (L-16A)
Purpose of flight	Personal
Conditions	Day · Visual Meteorological Cond
Phase / occurrence	Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Pilot age	64
Pilot total time	1,814 hrs · Experienced
Time in type	471 hrs
Fatalities	2

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while turning at low altitude, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and entering an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB findings

Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Not attained/maintained - C

What happened

Witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying at a low altitude and the rear occupant dropping candy to people on the ground. The airplane then proceeded east and crossed a highway before beginning a turn to return for another pass. One witness reported that the airplane then made a sudden turn and the nose of the airplane dropped; another witness reported that the airplane suddenly dipped. The airplane impacted the front yard of a private residence. A postcrash examination of the airplane showed flight control continuity. No anomalies were found with the airplane's engine or other systems. It is likely the pilot exceeded the airplane's critical angle-of-attack following the turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low of an altitude to recover.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.