# NTSB ATL01LA113: Aeronca 11AC, N4070E, Punta Gorda, FL, September 9, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 2001, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Punta Gorda, FL - Coordinates: 26.9225, -81.995277 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.9225&lon=-81.9953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53552 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53552/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA113 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the landing gear.. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The pilot had been conducting touch-and-go landings on runway 15 at the airport. On the fifth landing, the pilot stated everything seemed normal, but, upon touchdown, the airplane "suddenly lurched over" to the left and skidded off to the left side of the runway. Examination of the airplane found the left main landing gear separated, and the left wing tip bent. The propeller and stringers in the lower fuselage also sustained damage. The pilot's seat pan was found collapsed. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 2001, about 0930 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 11AC, N4070E, registered to E-Z Flying Club of Wilmington, Delaware, landed hard and collapsed the left main landing gear during a landing at Charlotte County Airport in Punta Gorda, Florida. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight had initially departed Charlotte County Airport, in Punta Gorda, Florida, at 0900. The pilot had been conducting touch-and-go landings on runway 15 at the airport. On the fifth landing, the pilot stated everything seemed normal, but, upon touchdown, the airplane "suddenly lurched over" to the left and skidded off to the left side of the runway. Examination of the airplane found the left main landing gear separated, and the left wing tip was bent. The propeller blades were bent, and stringers in the lower fuselage also sustained damage. The pilot's seat pan was found collapsed. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4070E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4070E), registered now, S/N 11BC-158 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 11AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac) (registry code 0191102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11BC-158 - Airframe hours: 1670 - Engines: Continental A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 2000, 388 hours before - Departed: PGA, Punta Gorda, FL - Destination: PGA, Punta Gorda, FL - Airport: KPGA, Charlotte County Airport, runway 15, 4,743 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 8, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 634 total, 61 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KPGD ## 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 20010909038689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010909038689A), Sep 9, 2001: Bbavia 11AC, Punta Gorda, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot lost control on landing and the aircraft broke off the left main strut and skidded off the runway. (.19) on September 9, 2001, about 0930 eastern… 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.