N81543

On September 22, 1999, about 1930 Eastern Daylight Time, an Aeronca 7AC, N81543, was substantially damaged while landing at a private airstrip near Brookfield, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated from another private airstrip near Brookfield, Ohio. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a letter to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot stated:

"On approach to landing at my home base, 3 deer bolted acrost [sp] the end of runway right in front of me. I flared out + the plane stalled + hit the ground from 8' to 10' high. The impact broke gear and plane slid on belly into obstruction on side of runway."

The pilot never reported the accident. A neighbor called the FAA several weeks later, and the Safety Board was notified about the accident on October, 18, 1999. The pilot/owner failed to submit NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/ Operator report form after two written requests.

Examination of the wreckage by a FAA Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The Inspector observed damage to the left wing spar, both main landing gears, and the lower fuselage.

A review of the Safety Board's database revealed that the pilot was involved in a previous accident with the same airplane. On August 24, 1996, the pilot crashed during an attempted takeoff. In that accident, he stated a giant hand, possibly turbulence, threw the airplane around. However, a witness stated that the pilot tookoff in a steep nose high attitude and stalled back onto the ground from about 10 feet in the air. During the accident investigation, the pilot failed to submit the NTSB form after three written requests.