# Accident 20120801015339A: Aeronca 7AC, Winter Haven, FL, August 1, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 2012, 07:30 local time
- Place: Winter Haven, FL
- Airport: Winter Haven'S Gilbert
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.0578° N, 81.7519° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0578&lon=-81.7519&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1060E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1060E) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 59 total, 44 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12CA490](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA490) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120801015339A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRPLANE WAS LOCATED SOUTH OF RUNWAY 23 ON A DOWN SLOPING BANK OF A DRAINAGE DITCH WHERE IT IMPACTED SEVERAL SMALL TREES. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WING LEADING EDGES, WING RIBS, RUDDER, AND TAIL WHEEL.  THE PROPELLER TIPS WERE DAMAGED AND BROKEN.  THERE WERE NUMEROUS CUTS AND PUNCTURES IN THE FABRIC.THE AIRMAN STATED THAT AFTER LANDING ON RUNWAY 23 WITH A LIGHT QUARTERING LEFT CROSSWIND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO WEATHERVANE TO THE LEFT AND HE FAILED TO APPLY ADEQUATE CONTROL CORRECTION TO PREVENT THE AIRCRAFT FROM VEERING FURTHER TO THE LEFT.  THE AIRMAN STATED THAT ONCE HE REALIZED HE WAS NOT GOING IN THE DIRECTION HE WANTED TO BE GOING IN HE MAY HAVE PANICKED AND ADDED POWER WHICH PROPELLED HIM ACROSS THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY AND INTO SMALL TREES ALONG A DRAINAGE DITCH ON A SOUTHEAST HEADING.  THE AIRMAN ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.A REVIEW OF THE AIRMAN'S LOGBOOK REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF REQUIRED AERONAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH 14 CFR 61.87(B).  THE AIRMAN'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, DENNIS LOWELL DOWNING, ATP 1851640, STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF THE SPORT PILOT AIRPLANE KNOWLEDGE TEST FULFILLED THIS REQUIREMENT.THE WEATHER WAS VFR WITH GOOD VISIBILITY, A FEW SCATTERED CLOUDS, SOUTH WIND ESTIMATED AT 5 KNOTS, AND NO PRECIPITATION.  THE RUNWAY WAS DRY.  WEATHER WAS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A FACTOR.THE ABSENCE OF ANY SKID MARKS OR ANY OTHER EVIDENTIARY MARKS ON THE RUNWAY, TAXIWAY, AND GRASS INDICATES THE AIRCRAFT LIKELY DID NOT EXPERIENCE A BRAKE, STEERING, OR OTHER MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.  THERE WAS A FAINT TIRE SKID MARK ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTING SMALL TREES ALONG THE DRAINAGE DITCH INDICATIVE OF THE PILOT'S USE OF WHEEL BRAKES IN AN EFFORT TO SLOW THE AIRPLANE.  THE AIRMAN STATED THAT HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY KNOWN MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE LOGBOOKS INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN AN AIRWORTHY CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 ERA12CA490](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA490), Aug 1, 2012: Aeronca 7AC (N1060E), Winter Haven, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

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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