Casualties unknown

1987-07-09: Aeronca 7BCM (N8362H) — Ralf Lewis — Bountiful, UT

Bountiful, UT, US

On July 9, 1987, an Aeronca 7BCM (registration N8362H) operated by Ralf Lewis was involved in an aviation accident near Bountiful, UT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A private pilot practicing touch-and-go landings lost directional control after a wheel landing, causing the aircraft to swerve off the runway and strike a steel post near petroleum tanks.

What happened

The incident occurred while a private pilot was conducting practice maneuvers at an airfield. The specific phase of flight involved repeated touch-and-go landings. During the third attempt in this sequence, the pilot reported that the aircraft touched down on its main wheels only, rather than with all three points of contact simultaneously.

Immediately following touchdown, the aircraft was positioned adjacent to large petroleum storage tanks. At this moment, the aircraft began to weathercock toward the right side. This directional instability caused the aircraft to swerve off the paved runway surface and depart the designated taxiway area.

As the aircraft left the runway, the left wing made contact with a steel post located at a taxiway gate. The impact resulted in damage to the left wing structure. No further details regarding injuries or additional damage were provided in the source text.

The investigation

The available source material does not contain specific findings from a mechanical inspection or detailed investigative analysis of the aircraft components. The narrative is limited to the pilot's report of the landing configuration and the subsequent ground movement.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X31470. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.