No fatalities

31 Aug 2013: AERONCA 7EC — TAILDRAGGER INC — Plattsmouth, NE

Plattsmouth, NE, United States

On 31 Aug 2013, an AERONCA 7EC operated by TAILDRAGGER INC was involved in an aviation accident near Plattsmouth, NE. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of control during takeoff. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A private pilot lost control during takeoff from runway 16; the aircraft yawed right, crossed the left edge, then descended with a 180-degree spin, sustaining substantial fuselage damage. No mechanical issues were reported; an ultralight pilot noted gusty winds just above the runway.

Accident Details

During departure from runway 16 for a local flight, the aircraft was being piloted by a private pilot in the front seat, while a commercial pilot in the rear seat followed along on the controls. As the airplane became airborne, it yawed to the right and crossed the left edge of the runway.

Loss of Control

Shortly after the yaw, the aircraft's right wing suddenly dropped, causing the right main landing gear to contact the ground. The airplane then descended and spun 180 degrees before coming to rest. The fuselage sustained substantial damage.

Pilot and Environmental Factors

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident. At the time of the accident, reported winds were calm. However, an ultralight pilot who had flown shortly before the accident airplane reported a 5-10 knot wind from the south just above the runway.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintained