Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Callahan, Florida 32011
Tuesady, June 25, 1996 17:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While in cruise flight at 1,200 feet, the engine began to run rough. The pilot applied carburetor heat, and the engine roughness became worse. He immediately selected a field and began an approach for an emergency landing. During landing rollout in the field, the pilot made a turn to the left to slow the aircraft, and the right main landing gear collapsed. After the accident, the engine was started and operated to full power with no evidence of failure or malfunction. The carburetor heat operated normally during the postaccident engine run. The temperature and dew point were reported to be 95 and 73 degrees, respectively. According to icing probability charts, conditions were conducive to carburetor ice.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's premature decision to reduce power, following application of carburetor heat, when engine operation became rougher after experiencing roughness due to carburetor icing. The weather (carburetor icing) conditions and carburetor ice were related factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/25/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CALLAHAN
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32011
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1556 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID JAX
Elevation of weather observation facility 30
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 35
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 374
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 25 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1745
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N84538
NTSB Number MIA96LA163
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aeronca
Aircraft Model 7AC
Aircraft Series Identifier 7AC
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC-3241
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 14 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 2200
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CRAIG T. STEELE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4375 CONFEDERATE POINT RD.
Aircraft Owner City JACKSONVILLE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32210
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 23J
Departure City JACKSONVILLE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 01J
Destination City HILLIARD
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --