N82559

On July 29, 2001, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Aeronca 7AC airplane, N82559, received substantial damage while landing at the Skwentna Airport, Skwentna, Alaska. The solo certificated commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1845.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 30, the pilot reported that he had been practicing stop-and-go landings. He landed on runway 9 which has a gravel surface, and is 3,400 feet long. The pilot said he applied the brakes to come to a stop, and the airplane nosed over. He added that the airplane had just recently been modified with new, double puck hydraulic brakes, and that he just was not aware of how well they worked. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut, and vertical stabilizer.

The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.