# Accident 20230623012779A: Aeronca 11AC, Pence Springs, WV, June 23, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 23, 2023, 09:50 local time
- Place: Pence Springs, WV
- Airport: Hinton-Alderson
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.6796° N, 80.7104° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6796&lon=-80.7104&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9543E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9543E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca 11AC (registry code 0191102, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 11AC
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,571 total, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA275) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230623012779A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT TOOK A POTENTIAL STUDENT FOR A FLIGHT ON THE MORNING OF 6/23/2023.  NO FORMAL LOCAL WEATHER INFORMATION TAKEN DURING PREFLIGHT.  THE PILOT VISUAL OBSERVATIONS DESCRIBED THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AS LOW CEILINGS, HAZE, LOW TEMPERATURES, AND LIGHT WINDS.  DURING THE FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION THE PILOT STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO INCREASE POWER AND ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE UPCOMING TERRAIN.  AFTER APPLYING POWER, HE WAS UNABLE TO GAIN RPM OR ALTITUDE. PILOT STATED HE FELT THAT HE EXPERIENCED CARBURETOR ICING, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER, AND LED TO THE ACCIDENT.  INTERVIEW WITH PASSENGER DESCRIBED A HARD RIGHT TURN AND STALL DURING THE MANEUVERING BEFORE HITTING THE TREES.  THE AIRCRAFT RIGHT AND LEFT WINGS IMPACTED SEVERAL TREES BEFORE REACHING THE GROUND. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A GEAR DOWN HORIZONTAL (PANCAKED) ORIENTATION.  POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED NO AIRFRAME OR ENGINE ANOMALIES, PROPELLOR INSPECTION INDICATED ENGINE WAS NOT UNDER POWER DURING ACCIDENT, APPEARING ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING AT ALL.

## 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 ERA23LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA275), Jun 23, 2023: Aeronca 11AC (N9543E), Pence Springs, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

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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