Incident Overview
A pilot of an Aeronca 7BCM bailed out at less than 1000 feet above ground level after the aircraft caught fire in flight. The pilot reported that approximately five minutes before the fire began, he had overfilled the fuselage header tank while transferring fuel from the wing tanks. This caused fuel to spill out of the top of the tank and splash onto the windscreen.
Sequence of Events
Immediately prior to the fire, the pilot was observed performing a number of steep 'wing-over' maneuvers and a steep, descending, slipping spiral. The fire was first noticed at the firewall and subsequently spread aft into the pilot area. No further details are available regarding the origin of the fire or the pilot's condition after the bailout.
Aircraft and Operational Context
The aircraft involved was an Aeronca 7BCM. The accident occurred during flight, with the pilot conducting fuel transfer operations. The maneuvers performed shortly before the fire may have contributed to the fuel spillage, but no causal link is established in the available information.