# NTSB ANC80DAG45: Aeronca 15AC, N1209H, Tonsina, AK, March 15, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 15, 1980
- Place: Tonsina, AK · TONSINA, AK
- Location: 61.6558° N, 145.1753° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tonsina, AK, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6558&lon=-145.1753&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 19, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131503
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC80DAG45
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DAG45

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1564  80/3/15    TONSINA,AK          AERONCA 15AC        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 36, 485
        TIME - 1730                    N1209H              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TONSINA LODGE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GULKANA,AK                  TONSINA,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO INITIATE GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - FORECASTER TO PILOT
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          BLOWING SNOW                                             RIGHT CROSS WIND 068-112 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          260                                                       25
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- WIND GUSTS TO 30K
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1209H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1209H), registered now, S/N 15AC-221, built 1948 (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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Tonsina Lodge

## 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 19800315012739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800315012739A), Mar 15, 1980: Aronca 15AC, Tonsina Lodge, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot claims downdraft approaching landing over trees. Caused hard landing.

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.