Summary
On July 26, 1996, a Aeronca 11AC (N9232E) was involved in an incident near Alexandria, NJ. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: Failure of the commercial pilot to ensure that directional control was maintained during takeoff, which led to a ground swerve and collision with a fence.
On July 26, 1996, about 1800 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 11AC, N9232E, was substantially damaged during takeoff at the Alexandria Airport, Alexandria, New Jersey. The commercial pilot and private pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated:
"I was teaching a new owner (1/4) to taxi. He had no experience in aircraft. He was a fully rated private pilot (current in all aspects) and was P.I.C. This was a taxi lesson as he had no time in the plane. His first taxi went left. He forgot he had brakes. I pulled hard right and hit right rudder. Took control - made a right (in retrospect) aileron turn.
This incident is documented in NTSB report NYC96LA159. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N9232E.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
failure of the commercial pilot to ensure that directional control was maintained during takeoff, which led to a ground swerve and collision with a fence.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 26, 1996, about 1800 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 11AC, N9232E, was substantially damaged during takeoff at the Alexandria Airport, Alexandria, New Jersey. The commercial pilot and private pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated:
"I was teaching a new owner (1/4) to taxi. He had no experience in aircraft. He was a fully rated private pilot (current in all aspects) and was P.I.C. This was a taxi lesson as he had no time in the plane. His first taxi went left. He forgot he had brakes. I pulled hard right and hit right rudder. Took control - made a right (in retrospect) aileron turn. Back to tie down. Noticed water in field and high speed taxi through it. Found spring (rudder off) reattached it. Took over left seat to teach proper brake usage and tail lift. When I lifted the tail it went hard left, through an illegal fence (10 yards from runway)...Found rudder horn bent 90 degrees, rudder control impossible. No intent was made to fly...."
The airplane was examined by an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector who reported:
"...the right rudder pedal did not work and was found in the forward position. This was due to the cable connection point being bent 90 degree which slackened the cable. The crack at the connection point looked bright and new."
According to an interview conducted by the FAA with the commercial pilot on July 29, 1996:
"...During the interview ...[the commercial pilot]...confirmed that he was the Pilot-In-Command...."
Additionally, during the interview, it was disclosed that the pilot did not meet recent experience for carrying passengers, no current medical, and no current flight review.
According to the Airport/Facility Directory, runway 26 was 2550 feet long, 50 feet wide, and had an asphalt surface.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC96LA159