# Accident 20040412008309A: Aronca 65TAC, Grass Valley, CA, April 12, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 12, 2004, 14:30 local time
- Place: Grass Valley, CA
- Airport: Alta Sierra Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1136° N, 121.0564° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1136&lon=-121.0564&mi=10
- Aircraft: N39515, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N39515) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca 65-TAC (registry code 0190910, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-65-tac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ARONCA 65TAC
- Reported engine: CONT A758
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,642 total, 6 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04CA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA185) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040412008309A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT STATED THAT HE SETUP FOR A WHEEL LANDING ON RUNWAY 1. THIS AIRPORT ONLY ALLOWS LANDINGS ON RUNWAY 1 DUE TO THE UPHILL SLOPE. PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD A 5 KT. TAIL WIND. THE APPROACH AND LANDING WERE NORMAL THEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO TURN RIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT RUDDER AND LEFT BRAKE WITH NO RESPONSE. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO TURN TO THE RIGHT ABOUT 45 DEGREES AND IMPACTED TREES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. PILOT STATED THAT THE TAIL WHEEL WAS OFF THE GROUND DURING THE LANDING AND THE TURN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REVEAL ANY APPEARED MECHANICAL EXPLANATION FOR LOSS OF CONTROL. THE RIGHT HAND GEAR WAS EXAMINED, AND APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN RIPPED FROM THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO IMPACT, PROBABLY FROM THE TIRE HITTING THE TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE PHOTOS REVEAL A CONSISTENT TIRE TRACK SPACING, WHICH WOULD NOT BE CONSISTENT WITH THE DAMAGE OBSERVED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX04CA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA185), Apr 12, 2004: Aeronca 65-TAC (N39515), Grass Valley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors in the accident were wind gusts and tailwind/crosswind conditions.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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