# Accident 20240727010509A: Aeronca 11AC, Winchester, CA, July 27, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 27, 2024, 11:57 local time
- Place: Winchester, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7054° N, 117.0915° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7054&lon=-117.0915&mi=10
- Aircraft: N86270, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N86270) (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: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 250 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA261) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240727010509A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 27, 2024, ABOUT 1157 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AERONCA 11AC, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SUSTAINED

SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR WINCHESTER, CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT

AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL

REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT.

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DEPARTED BROWN FIELD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (SDM), SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA,

WITH AN INTENDED DESTINATION OF HEMET RYAN FIELD (HMT) HEMET, CALIFORNIA. APPROXIMATELY 6

MILES SOUTH OF HMT, THE ENGINE RPM DECREASED FROM 2,400 TO 2,000 RPM, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED

BY A VIBRATION AND GRINDING SOUND. THE PILOT TROUBLESHOT THE REDUCTION IN ENGINE RPM BY

APPLYING CARBURETOR HEAT AND CYCLING BETWEEN BOTH MAGNETOS WHILE HE NOTED THE OIL

TEMPERATURE REMAINED WITH THE NORMAL OPERATING RANGE, BUT OIL PRESSURE WAS DECREASING. THE

ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY LOST TOTAL POWER AND THE PROPELLER REMAINED WINDMILLING.

FOLLOWING AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING IN

AN OPEN FIELD. WHEN THE MAIN WHEELS CONTACTED TERRAIN, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO

REST INVERTED. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE LEFTWING LIFT STRUT WAS

BENT.

THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED TO A SECURE LOCATION FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. ATQA WILL BE AMENDED WHEN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS OBTAINED.

## 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 WPR24LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA261), Jul 27, 2024: Aeronca 11AC (N86270), Winchester, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to a fatigue fracture of the crankshaft.

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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