Melrose, TN, USA
N1294E
AERONCA 7AC
On May 29, 2022, about 2055 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N1294E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Melrose, Tennessee. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he departed his private airstrip in Maryville, Tennessee about 1630, and proceeded northeast. He then circled his farm for about 10 minutes and then proceeded towards a nearby mountain range and climbed to 2,500 ft. He flew in the vicinity of the range for about 15 minutes, then descended to 1,500 ft, and then turned northeast towards Seymour Air Park (TN20), Seymour, Tennessee. The airplane’s engine then “quit”, and the pilot turned northwest, towards some “river bottoms” which were about 1 mile away. When it was obvious that the airplane could not reach the river bottoms, he maneuvered to an area that did not have any large trees. During the ensuing forced landing, the airplane’s right wing struck a tree, it then yawed 180°, before it came to rest. Both the pilot and the passenger then egressed through the cabin door. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the magneto switch was in the “BOTH” position, the fuel selector was in the “ON” (down) position, but “felt like it was disconnected.” The bottom portion of the rudder was bent to the right, and the outboard portion of the right wing forward and aft spars were substantially damaged. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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