Chadron Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chadron, Nebraska 69337
Sunday, November 2, 2008 12:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non-certificated pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he was interested in purchasing the single-engine tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot added that during the take-off, approximately 40-50 feet into the air, the engine lost power. The pilot also stated that he tried to turn back to the runway but was unable. The airplane's tail hit the ground first, followed by the main wheels. An examination of the airplane and engine by the FAA failed to identify any preimpact abnormalities. A check of the runway and accident site revealed tire skid marks (on the runway) pointing to the crash site. The marks continued onto the grass, with the tracks corresponding to the landing gear of Aeronca. At one point along the path, the ground had four deep cuts, with the first two cuts measuring about 12-inches deep. The ground scars were consistent with a rotating propeller, being driven. A review of the pilot's certificate revealed that he was issued a student pilot certificate in April 1990 and did not have any flight instructor endorsements. The pilot did not submit a NTSB form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report, as requested.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain direction control of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/2/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Chadron
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69337
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 425015N
Event Location Longitude 1030543W
Event Location Airport Chadron Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KCDR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Not Reported
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 24769
NTSB Notification Source FSDO
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 9:10AM
User who most recently changed record grol
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2259E
NTSB Number CEN09CA050
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AERONCA
Aircraft Model 7CCM
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC-5833
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 Oct 15 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Doug Budd
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Crawford
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Shawn Merrill
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Pine Ridge
Operator State NE
Operator Country USA
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 --
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 KCDR
Departure City Chadron
Departure State NE
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KCDR
Destination City Chadron
Destination State NE
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 10 2008 3:11PM
User who most recently changed record hatc
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 02
Runway Length 6001
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --