Mt. Pleasant Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina 29464
Sunday, September 28, 2008 17:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the Aeronca 7AC stated that during the engine run-up for departure, he observed that the right magneto "failed." The pilot taxied the airplane back to the ramp, and a mechanic serviced the right magneto. The pilot then performed another engine run-up, which was satisfactory, and the airplane departed on runway 17. About 50 feet above ground level, the engine lost partial power. The pilot attempted a left turn back toward the airport, as there were trees in front of him. During the turn, the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. Examination of the wreckage revealed an inoperative left magneto.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during an emergency maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the left magneto.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/28/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1715
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Mt. Pleasant
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29464
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 325352N
Event Location Longitude 0794658W
Event Location Airport Mt. Pleasant Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LRO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 12
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1656 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID LRO
Elevation of weather observation facility 46
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24682
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 22 2009 8:44AM
User who most recently changed record grol
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2504E
NTSB Number NYC08CA325
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 --
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC-6086
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Aug 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 1031
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name James Valentine
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Mt. Pleasant
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29464
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name James Valentine
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Mt. Pleasant
Operator State SC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 29464
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code LRO
Departure City Mt. Pleasant
Departure State SC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MKS
Destination City Moncks Corner
Destination State SC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 26 2008 2:07PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 3700
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --