Aeronca 11AC accident near Frankenmuth, MI

On July 3, 2016, an Aeronca 11AC (airplane) was involved in an accident near Frankenmuth, MI. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

July 3, 2016

Place

Frankenmuth, MI

Aircraft

Aeronca 11AC · Airplane

Injuries

2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

43.315°N, 83.705°W

NTSB ID

20160704X55622

Official records · CEN16FA240

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 3, 2016, about 1722 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca Chief 11AC airplane, N86078, impacted terrain near Frankenmuth, Michigan. The pilot and the passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the airplane was not on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the William 'Tiny' Zehnder Field Airport (66G), Frankenmuth, Michigan. A witness, who was located at 66G, said the wind was calm, and the pilot was making touch-and-go landings, departing to the east and then landing to the west. The witness added that he heard the crash and saw smoke east of the airfield. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. He held a third-class medical certificate that was issued on May 15, 2016, with the limitation: must have glasses available for near vision. At the time of the medical exam, the pilot reported 600 total flight hours and 0 hours in the previous 6 months. The pilot's most current flight records were not located during the investigation. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONThe Aeronca Chief 11AC is a high-wing, single-engine airplane with fixed, conventional landing gear and powered by a 65-horsepower, four-cylinder, reciprocating Continental engine and a fixed pitch propeller. The fuselage is mixture of thin aluminum skin and welded steel tubes covered with fabric. The wings a

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of control for undetermined reasons based on available information.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.