Champion AERONCA 7AC accident near Bridgeton, NJ
On September 19, 2022, a Champion AERONCA 7AC (airplane) was involved in an accident near Bridgeton, NJ. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 19, 2022
- Place
- Bridgeton, NJ
- Aircraft
- Champion AERONCA 7AC · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 39.471°N, 75.183°W
- NTSB ID
- 20220919105965
Official records · ERA22FA426
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On September 19, 2022, about 1348 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC Champion, N2716E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bridgetown, New Jersey. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to airport security video, the pilot started the airplane’s engine at 1341 and taxied to the end of the 1,900-ft-long turf runway. About 4 minutes later, another security video showed the airplane in a steep left-turning descent and then the airplane’s impact with the ground. A witness located near the departure end of runway 18 at Bucks Airport (00N), Bridgeton, New Jersey, heard an airplane departing the runway and described that it sounded “unusual.” He observed the airplane 3 to 4 ft above the runway surface and stated that the airplane then “aggressively pulled up” in a steep climb near the end of runway. The airplane cleared power lines, but the engine sounded as if it were not accelerating or generating full power. The airplane subsequently did not appear to climb and entered a descending left turn. The witness lost sight of the airplane when it descended behind trees before hearing an impact. Another witness, the owner of the airport, observed the airplane depart the runway with about 50 ft remaining. He stated that the airplane entered a steep angle of attack and slowly leveled out again. The witness lost sight of the airplane after its slow left turn. The airplane impacted the front yard of a residential house that was about 50
Probable cause
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack shortly after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and impact with terrain.
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Browse: New Jersey · Champion aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
