No fatalities

3 Jun 2011: AERONCA 7AC — BLUE RIDGE SPORT FLIGHT LLC — Honea Path, SC

Honea Path, SC, United States

On 3 Jun 2011, an AERONCA 7AC operated by BLUE RIDGE SPORT FLIGHT LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Honea Path, SC. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's loss of control during the takeoff. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot on a solo cross-country flight in a tailwheel airplane experienced a takeoff accident at a turf runway, resulting in substantial damage but no mechanical issues.

Accident Overview

A student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The destination airport featured a turf runway, which the pilot had visited with his instructor the previous day. After an uneventful landing, he taxied the airplane back to the departure end of the runway to initiate a takeoff.

Sequence of Events

During the takeoff roll, the pilot applied power. The airplane lifted off the ground at approximately 50 miles per hour. The student pilot then lowered the airplane's nose to gain additional airspeed. Subsequently, the airplane made contact with the runway surface before impacting trees located on the right side of the runway.

Post-Accident Examination

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the aircraft after the accident. The inspection revealed substantial damage to the wing spar. However, the inspector noted that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.

Aircraft Damage

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, specifically to the wing spar. No other damage details were provided in the source material.

Pilot Information

The pilot was a student pilot flying solo. The source does not specify the pilot's age, experience level, or other personal details.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot