# NTSB ANC13LA065: Aeronca 15AC, N1374H, Talkeetna, AK, July 13, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 2013, 22:00 local (Jul 13, 2013, 06:00 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.318889, -150.116104 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3189&lon=-150.1161&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 10, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87495 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC13LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87495/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87495 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13LA065 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of airplane control during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified; cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Maintenance/inspections](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010500): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Not inspected; cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010500/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010500/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis During landing, the tailwheel-equipped airplane ground looped and struck trees off the left side of the runway. The pilot reported that the airplane's right brake was "ineffective" during the landing; however, the airplane was partially disassembled and placed into storage before a detailed postaccident examination of the brake assembly could be performed. Therefore, it could not be determined if a brake anomaly occurred. The pilot stated that the flight was to be the airplane's last flight before being placed in permanent storage and that the airplane had not received an annual inspection for several years. A brake inspection is a routine part of an annual inspection; therefore, it is possible that, if the airplane had received an annual inspection and a brake anomaly did exist, it could have been detected and corrected before the accident flight. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 2013, about 2200 Alaska daylight time, an Aeronca 15AC, N1374H, veered off the left side of runway 34 during landing and struck trees at Talkeetna Village Strip Airport in Talkeetna, Alaska. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed from Summit Airstrip near Cantwell, Alaska, about 2000. According to the pilot, the airplane's right brake "went soft" during landing and was "ineffective," and the airplane ground looped to the left. Photographs and information provided by the Alaska State Troopers who responded to the scene showed that the airplane struck trees on the west side of the airstrip and sustained damage to the right wing. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector observed the damaged airplane shortly after the accident; however, the airplane was subsequently disassembled and placed into storage before a detailed examination of the brake assembly could be performed. The pilot stated that the flight was to be the airplane's last flight before permanent storage. The pilot reported that the airplane's most recent annual inspection was performed April 26, 2005. Title 14 CFR 91.409 specifies that no person may operate an aircraft unless, within the preceding 12 calendar months, the aircraft has received an annual inspection and has been approved for return to service by a mechanic with an inspection authorization. Title 14 CFR Part 43, Appendix D, contains a general list of items to be checked during an annual inspection, which includes in section (e), the landing gear group, "all units -- for poor condition and insecurity of attachment," "hydraulic lines -- for leakage," and "brakes -- for improper adjustment." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1374H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1374H-2018-02-28), registration cancelled 2018-02-28, S/N 15AC-423, 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-423 - Year built: 1949 - Airframe hours: 4485 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Schwab Max Charles - Registered owner: Schwab Max Charles - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 26, 2005 - Departed: UMM, SUMMIT, AK - Destination: AK44, Talkeetna, AK - Airport: AK44, Talkeetna Village Strip, runway 34, 1,600 × 30 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,900 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 6,900 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: PATK, 1 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 20130712014839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130712014839A), Jul 12, 2013: Aeronca 15AC, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. On 12 July 2013, at approximately 2030 local time a Aeronca 15AC, N1374H, landed at the Talkeetna Village Strip, in Talkeetna, AK, ran off of the left side of… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87495. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 398 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413287&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Airplane from right side (item 2, .PDF, 492 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413288&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Airplane%20from%20right%20side-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Airplane showing wing root (item 3, .PDF, 331 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413289&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Airplane%20showing%20wing%20root-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Right main wheel and tire (item 4, .PDF, 416 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413290&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Right%20main%20wheel%20and%20tire-Master.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.