The Airplane Was Located By Aerial Search Personnel And First Responders In A Densely Wooded Area

Location: Duluth, MN Accident Number: CEN23FA248
Date & Time: June 21, 2023, 07:14 Local Registration: N308ED
Aircraft: Aeronca 7CCM Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On June 21, 2023, at 0714 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7CCM airplane, N308ED, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Duluth, Minnesota. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control (ATC) recording revealed that the airplane departed Duluth International Airport (DLH), Duluth, Minnesota, at 0659 and proceeded northeast.

The pilot’s handheld GPS was located on-scene and the accident flight track data was recovered from the unit. The recorded flight track showed that after departing DLH, the airplane proceeded northeast about 18 nautical miles to the pilot’s private grass strip. The airplane approached from the south and entered a left downwind for the east runway.  The airplane overflew the runway about 100 ft above ground level (agl), and 58 mph groundspeed. Near the departure end of the runway the airplane climbed and accelerated to 64 mph, then gradually slowed to 54 mph and reached a peak of 240 ft agl. The airplane then made a descending left turn toward the accident site.

The airplane was located by aerial search personnel and first responders in a densely wooded area about 450 yards from the grass strip. The surrounding tree canopy appeared undisturbed, with no noticeable damage. The airplane came to rest in a nose low attitude and the right wing was crushed aft from about mid span to the wing tip. The aft fuselage and empennage remained intact and were displaced to the right. The engine and propeller remained attached and were partially buried in the ground. One propeller blade was bent aft about mid span and exhibited leading edge gouges and chordwise scratches. The other blade was mostly straight and exhibited leading edge damage.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov