Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control after landing, resulting in a departure from the runway and a collision with trees.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot landed on runway 5 and lost directional control. The airplane overran the right side of the runway and struck trees. According to the pilot, after the main gear touched down, the airplane immediately swerved right. He was unable to regain adequate speed to abort the landing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction.
Source record
Factual narrative
On Sunday, August 15, 1993, at 1150 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7EC, N4306C, registered to Melvin J. Vorbach, and piloted by Donald R. Vorbach, sustained substantial damage during a landing at the Smith Mountain Lake Airport, Moneta, Virginia. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot was conducting a landing on runway 05. In his report, he stated: After main gear contacted runway 05, immediate skid to right occurred. Lost directional control of aircraft and was unable to regain sufficient speed to become airborne. The pilot reported that the winds were "calm" at the time of the accident. Runway 05 at this airport was 50 feet wide. Mr. Ed Hall, Aviation Safety Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, conducted an examination of the wreckage. In his report, Mr. Hall stated: After leaving RW [runway] 5 approximately 1000 ft from the approach end and contacting pine trees....Aircraft traveled 250 ft and stopped at bottom of hill....gear folded under fuselage....fuselage frame bent aft of RH door....Firewall wrinkled. -