# NTSB ANC09CA089: Aeronca 15AC, N1301H, Palmer, AK, August 28, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 28, 2009, 14:33 local (22:33 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.255832, -148.583618 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2558&lon=-148.5836&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74635
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA089
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74635/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74635
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA089

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a runway excursion, collision with terrain, and nose over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Aircraft capability: landing distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Related operating info; cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 68 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition; cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot was on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, personal cross-country flight which included landing at an off-airport site. The pilot said he made several low passes over the landing area prior to landing. He said he had plenty of room for a safe landing, but when it appeared the airplane was going to go off the end of the landing area he applied the brakes, and aimed for a brushy area. He reported that brush concealed a creek with a 3-foot bank. The airplane collided with the bank, and nosed over. The pilot said an examination of the landing area revealed that the surface was wet glacial silt, and much slicker than he had anticipated. He said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. He said the airplane received substantial damage to the right wing, lift strut, and strut attachment.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot was on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, personal cross-country flight which included landing at an off airport site. The pilot said he made several low passes over the landing area prior to landing. He said he had plenty of room for a safe landing, but when it appeared the airplane was going to go off the end of the landing area he applied the brakes, and aimed for a brushy area. He reported that the brush concealed a creek with a 3 foot bank. The airplane collided with the bank, and nosed over. The pilot said an examination of the landing area revealed that the surface was wet glacial silt, and much slicker than he had anticipated. He said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. He said the airplane received substantial damage to the right wing, lift strut, and strut attachment.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1301H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1301H), registered now, S/N 15AC-325, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 15AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 15AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-15ac) (registry code 0191202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15AC-325
- Airframe hours: 3650
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Fair David E
- Registered owner: Fair David E
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2008
- Departed: LHD, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: Palmer, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 90 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.52 inHg
- Observed at: PAQ, 20 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20090828048949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090828048949A), Aug 28, 2009: Aeronca 15AC, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. 08/28/09: The pilot attempted to land at an Off Airport site. The aircraft skided into a creek bottom and flipped upsidedown.

## Other investigations on N1301H (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 ANC14LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14LA038), Jun 6, 2014: Aeronca 15AC (N1301H), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s failure to perform required fuel system tests to ensure that the airplane met its original type certification basis after modifying the fuel system and the Federal Aviation…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74635. 632 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 632 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320490&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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