NTSB Factual Report

On April 19, 2016, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a 7ECA Citabria, N5094X, was substantially damaged during a runway excursion while landing at Birchwood Pocono Airpark (abandoned), Tannersville, Pennsylvania. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by East Penn Flying Club, in accordance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport (XLL), Allentown, Pennsylvania, at 1230.

According to the pilot, during his return to his home base after a local flight, the engine began to "sputter and lost power." He set the mixture to the full rich position and applied the carburetor heat in an attempt to restore power, but both efforts had no effect. The airplane continued to lose altitude and the pilot made an emergency landing at an abandoned airfield. During the landing roll the pilot lost control of the airplane and "ground looped."

Initial examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left landing gear separated from the fuselage and the left wing was buckled. The airplane was recovered from the accident site and retained for further examination.