# Accident 20241225022459A: Aeronca 15AC, Loganville, GA, December 25, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 25, 2024, 16:58 local time
- Place: Loganville, GA
- Airport: Spring Valley Farm Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7971° N, 83.8513° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7971&lon=-83.8513&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6665K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6665K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca 15AC (registry code 0191202, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-15ac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C145 series (registry code 17012, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 15AC
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 3,164 total, 110 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA085) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241225022459A

## Narrative

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

AERONCA SEDAN HAD TAKEN OFF AROUND 3:50 PM AND FLEW DIRECT TO A LOCAL LAKE  AND BACK TO ACHIEVE AN HOUR OF FLIGHT TIME.  THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN WITH ABOUT 16 GALLONS OF FUEL AND ARRIVED BACK TO HOME BASE AROUND ONE HOUR LATER. THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOTICED ON TAKEOFF THAT THE SUN WAS EXTREMELY BRIGHT, BUT BY HEADING EAST IT WASN'T A FACTOR. EVERYTHING SEEMED SATISFACTORY UP TO THIS POINT, BUT LANDING AT AROUND 4:45 PM PUT THE FULL EFFECT OF THE SUN DIRECTLY IN HIS EYES. WEARING SUNGLASSES, THE BLINDING SUN DID NOT ALLOW THE RECOGNITION OF NEEDED LANDMARKS AT THIS PIVOTAL MOMENT. ON APPROACH, HE PREPARED TO CLOSE THE THROTTLE AND LAND. REALIZING WHERE HE WAS OVER THE FIELD, THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO ADVANCE THE THROTTLE, PULL THE CONTROL YOKE FULL AFT, AND TURN THE AILERON AND RUDDER HARD TO THE LEFT. THIS ACTION ALLOWED HIM TO MISS SOME TREES BUT NOT ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE CEDAR TREES WHICH HE HIT. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP ON AIRPORT PROPERTY AND WAS DESTROYED. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE WRECKAGE, WHERE HE WAS PICKED UP BY A NEIGHBOR AND TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. LOCAL RESIDENTS QUICKLY GATHERED AT THE CRASH SITE, AS EMERGENCY SERVICES HAD BEEN DISPATCHED. AROUND SIX MINUTES LATER, AN AREA  SHERIFF DEPUTY WAS THE FIRST RESPONDER ON SCENE. HE PROCEEDED TO TAPE OFF THE AREA AND GATHERED WITNESS STATEMENTS FOR HIS REPORT. MEANWHILE A RESIDENT WHOM IS A CURRENT FAA EMPLOYEE CONTACTED THE REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER INFORMING THEM OF THE AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT. FAA IIC, NTSB AND REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER COMPLETED CONFERENCE CALL DISCUSSING ALL DETAILS AND TO DEVISE A PLAN MOVING FORWARD. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE ACCIDENT, TIME FRAME AND LOCATION OF THE AIRCRAFT, A DECISION WAS MADE TO VISIT THE ACCIDENT SITE THE FOLLOWING MORNING.

DECEMBER 26,2024. FAA IIC ON LOCATION OF THE AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT SITE TO GATHER PHOTOGRAPHS, EYEWITNESS STATEMENTS AND TO ANALYZE ROOT CAUSES OF THE CRASH.

## 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 ERA25LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA085), Dec 25, 2024: Aeronca 15AC (N6665K), Loganville, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance of trees during an attempted go-around in sun glare.

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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