Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's failure to properly set the airplane controls prior to hand propping. Factors in the accident were the pilot's failure to properly chock the wheels and his decision to leave the cockpit unmanned during start.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On November 23, 1997, at 1104 eastern standard time, an Aeronca 7AC, N83101, was substantially damaged during landing near Tiverton, Ohio. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the unmanned flight that originated at Urbana, Ohio, at 0916. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to a report from the Urbana Police Department, the pilot landed on Runway 23 at Grimes Field Airport (I74), Urbana, Ohio. The airplane's engine stalled, and the pilot taxied the airplane to a grassy area to attempt a restart. According to the report:
"[The pilot] attempted to restart the aircraft by hand-propping the propeller, standing to the side of the single propeller. After 4 or 5 attempts, [the pilot] turned the ignition off and turned the propeller in reverse to remove any excess fuel and then attempted to restart the plane again. The plane's engine reportedly backfired and started as [the pilot] began walking away from the aircraft. The airplane began travelling eastbound through the airfield nearly striking a plane taking off on the runway, and a nearby hangar as it became airborne...[The airplane] started circling the interior of the field at low altitude, then flew out of the airport traffic area travelling east."
A private citizen in his airplane followed N83101 from Urbana, to Marysville, Ohio. The Ohio State Police monitored the remainder of the flight from a helicopter.
The police report further stated:
"The State Highway Patrol tracked the aircraft near Delaware, Ohio, at 10,000 feet above ground level and observed the aircraft climb to 12,000 feet into Coshocton County, Ohio, where the aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed in a bean field..."
The airplane flew unmanned for 1 hour and 48 minutes and the certificated private pilot was not injured.
In a written statement, the pilot said he attempted the restart to taxi the airplane from the infield to the parking apron at I74. Prior to the restart, he placed one wheel chock in front of the right main landing gear.
In the NTSB Form 6120. 1/2 Recommendation Section (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented), the pilot stated:
"Trim set full forward (Down) and qualified 'taildragger' pilot inside of aircraft."
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC98LA031