N83972

On June 10, 2000, about 1900 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7BCM, N83972, registered Seminole Aviation Association, Inc., was substantially damaged when it collided with the ground during landing flare/touchdown to runway 7 at Manatee Airport in Palmetto, Florida. The commercial pilot received serious injuries and one passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Vandenberg Airport in Tampa, Florida, at 1730.

According to the pilot, he was practicing a power-off landing on runway 7. He stated that while on the downwind leg at 600 feet above ground level (agl), he applied carburetor heat and retarded the throttle to idle. After turning final, he attempted to "bring back power," but there was "no response." The airplane impacted the north side of the midfield point of the runway in a wings level attitude. The propeller was damaged, and the right wing was bent down 30 degrees.

However, according to one witness, he observed the airplane on a "close-in" right downwind, and heard the engine's power reduced to idle. He stated that at the time, the airplane's altitude was 300 to 500 feet agl. Shortly thereafter, the airplane "banked sharply into a right base" at the midpoint of the runway. He stated that "in lining up the aircraft for final approach, the bank was held for most of the base leg and appeared to increase to avoid overshooting the runway. Altitude quickly decreased as the aircraft turned and [the] engine stayed at idle speed. At approximately 40 to 60 feet agl, the wings were leveled and the engine surged briefly. Forward airspeed had almost completely dissipated." The airplane then impacted hard on the runway.

Another witness stated that he observed the pilot make a "steep turn to base," then banked the airplane "very steep to make the runway" onto final approach. During the bank, the airplane lost altitude and the pilot "tried to add power prior to impact."

According to an FAA inspector, a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical discrepancies. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were not favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.