# Accident 20230916016769A: Aeronca 11AC, Athol, ID, September 16, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 16, 2023, 15:15 local time
- Place: Athol, ID
- Airport: Western Spur
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.9181° N, 116.6394° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9181&lon=-116.6394&mi=10
- Aircraft: N46WR, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46WR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca 11AC (registry code 0191102, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A-65-8F (registry code 17330, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-65-8f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 11AC
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A-65-8F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA346](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA346) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230916016769A

## Narrative

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

PIC REPORTED ENGINE QUIT WHEN HE SELECTED RIGHT WING FUEL TANK. SWITCHED TO MAIN TANK BUT COULD NOT RESTART ENGINE. ENGINE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC STARTER SO PILOT KEPT ENGINE TURNING USING WIND PUSHING PROP BUT WAS LOSING ALTITUDE RAPIDLY DOING THIS. PIC ELECTED TO LAND ON NARROW BUNCO RD EAST OF I-95. WINGS STRUCK TREE BRANCHES ON BOTH SIDES OF ROAD WHICH PULLED AIRCRAFT TO LEFT INTO DITCH AND ENDED UP ON NOSE. ENGINE NOT TURNING SO MINOR SCRATCHES ON PROP BUT LEFT ENGINE MOUNT IS BENT AS WELL AS BOTH WINGS SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIONAL DAMAGE DUE TO CONTACTING TREE BRANCHES AND/OR GROUND. NO INJURIES TO PILOT OR PERSONS ON GROUND.

## 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 WPR23LA346](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA346), Sep 16, 2023: Aeronca 11AC (N46WR), Apple, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fuel starvation due to the pilot’s incorrect movement of the fuel selector valve to OFF, which resulted in a loss of engine power.

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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