NTSB Factual Report

On May 5, 2018, about 0905 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N84396, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees shortly after departure from the Randall Airport (06N), Middletown, New York. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the flight instructor was seriously injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was owned by New York Champs Fling Club Inc. and operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

According to a member of the flying club that owned the airplane, the commercial pilot reserved the airplane from 0830 to 1100 on the day of the accident; however, he did not specify a destination or purpose of the flight.

A witness, who was driving on the road adjacent to the accident site observed the airplane flying in a westerly direction, when it "suddenly went nose down." She then stopped, saw the airplane in the woods, and called 911.

The airplane impacted a row of trees and rocky terrain at the edge of a field, about 1/2 mile from the departure end of runway 26 at 06N, about 300 ft to the left of the extended runway centerline. The airplane came to rest about 90°, vertical, nose down attitude with the wings oriented on a heading of about 250° magnetic. Several tree branches were broken directly above the airplane, and no ground scars were present leading toward or away from the main wreckage.

Examination of the wreckage revealed that all the major components of the airplane were present at the accident site. The nose section and engine were partially separated from the fuselage and displaced to the right and aft. Both wings had leading edge crush damage along their span. The empennage was bent about 40° to the left, aft of the baggage area. The rudder, elevator, horizontal and vertical stabilizers were largely intact. There was no fire. Flight control continuity was established from the ailerons and elevator to the rear seat control stick. The elevator moved freely; both ailerons moved with some binding. The main control tube was separated between the front and rear control sticks, consistent with bending overload. Rudder cable continuity was established to both rear seat rudder pedals, through a recovery cut in the attachment bracket on the right pedal. All cable ends remained intact. The rudder moved in both directions with some binding.

Impact damage to the fuel tank, firewall, and engine cowling precluded examination of the engine while at the accident site. The magneto switch was in the "both" position, the fuel control lever was in the "on" position. The carburetor heat knob was in the cold position. Both blades of the wooden propeller were fractured and splintered in several pieces. Blade "A" was fractured in the aft direction, near the root. Blade "B" had one dent in the metal leading edge about 4 inches from the tip. The spinner was crushed aft. The throttle linkage remined attached at the carburetor. The carburetor heat control cable remained attached to the air intake assembly. The air filter was damaged and unobstructed. The fuel tank was crushed and breached. The fuel tank outlet fitting was fractured and separated from the tank.

The commercial pilot was seated in the front seat. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records, he held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane single engine sea, airplane multiengine land, instrument airplane, and glider. His most recent second class medical certificate was issued on June 21, 2017. According to his logbook, he had accrued 737 total hours of flight experience, of which 12 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

The flight instructor was seated in the rear seat. According to FAA airman records, he held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane single engine sea, airplane multiengine land, instrument airplane, and a flight instructor certificate with rating for airplane single engine, and instrument airplane. His most recent third class medical certificate was issued on March 13, 2018, at which time he reported 8,075 total hours of flight experience.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.