# Accident 20110901023269A: Aeronca 7AC, Valparaiso, IN, September 1, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 1, 2011, 08:00 local time
- Place: Valparaiso, IN
- Airport: Porter Co
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.4539° N, 87.0069° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4539&lon=-87.0069&mi=10
- Aircraft: N83533, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83533) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca 7AC (registry code 2110102, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 10 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN11LA614](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA614) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110901023269A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS BOUGHT ON THE PREVIOUS DAY AND WAS BEING FLOWN TO CALIFORNIA FROM MICHIGAN (6D6). WHILE ENROUTE, PILOT ELECTED TO STOP AT KVPZ FOR REST-STOP. UPON TOUCH DOWN, TAIL-WHEEL BEGAN TO SHIMMY WITH AIRCRAFT DRIFTING TO RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY. PILOT STATED THAT SHE LIFTED TAIL-WHEEL BACK OFF GROUND AND ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BUT AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DRIFT OFF TO RIGHT AND DEPARTED PAVED SURFACE OF RUNWAY. PILOT STATED SHE ELECTED TO "JUST LET A/C ROLL-OUT & STOP", BUT AFTER TRAVELING APPROX. 60 FEET OFF RIGHT SIDE OF PAVED RUNWAY SURFACE, NOTICED A LARGE DRAINAGE DITCH. AT THIS POINT SHE PULLED BACK ON CONTROL STICK & ATTEMPTED TO FLY ACROSS DITCH. A/C WENT ACROSS DITCH AND STRUCK OPPOSITE EMBANKMENT CAUSING BOTH MAIN LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE, AND PROPELLER TO STRIKE THE GROUND, SEVERELY BENDING ONE BLADE OF PROP AND CAUSING A SUDDEN STOPPAGE OF THE ENGINE. A/C CAME TO STOP AND BOTH OCCUPANTS EXITED THE A/C UNIJURED WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENT. TACH TIME ON AIRCRAFT AT TIME OF ACCIDENT: 586.67....TACH TIME AT LAST ANNUAL: 583.8....TOTAL TIME ON AIRCRAFT AS OF 9/1/2011: 3233.77.

## 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 CEN11LA614](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA614), Sep 1, 2011: Aeronca 7AC (N83533), Valparaiso, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the wear in the tailwheel assembly.

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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