On April 15, 1994, an Aeronca 7AC (registration N84409) operated by New England Flyers was involved in an aviation accident near Beverly, MA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control due to a leg cramp, which led to an emergency takeoff from a taxiway and a subsequent stall during a go-around. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Aircraft registered N84409. Photo: Salem State University Archives and Special Collec from Salem, Massachusetts / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A pilot experienced a leg cramp while taxiing, elected to take off from the taxiway to avoid an overrun, and later stalled the aircraft during a go-around attempt.
What happened
The pilot was operating the aircraft on Taxiway Bravo when he suddenly suffered a cramp in his right leg. This physical impairment caused the airplane to drift to the right, making it impossible for him to maintain directional control on the ground. To prevent the aircraft from overrunning the end of the runway, the pilot made the decision to initiate a takeoff while still on the taxiway.
After becoming airborne, the pilot attempted to land back on the same taxiway. During the approach, he determined that his altitude was too high for a safe landing. Consequently, he initiated a go-around maneuver. However, the aircraft stalled during this phase of flight and subsequently impacted trees in the vicinity.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control due to a leg cramp, which led to an emergency takeoff from a taxiway and a subsequent stall during a go-around.
