# NTSB CEN10LA475: Aeronca 11CC, N4546E, Silver City, NM, August 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 2010, 11:55 local (17:55 UTC) - Place: Silver City, NM - Coordinates: 32.63639, -108.156387 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6364&lon=-108.1564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 76945 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA475 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76945/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76945 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA475 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff and the certificated flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11CC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=0191110), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11CC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=0191110), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 11CC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0191110), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Aeronca 11CC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=0191110), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot started the takeoff roll and the airplane ground-looped prior to liftoff. The certificated flight instructor unsuccessfully attempted to regain control; however, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. The right wing main spar and several ribs were bent as a result of the accident sequence. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 20104, at 1145 mountain daylight time, an Aeronca 11CC, N4546E, was substantially damaged when it ground looped during takeoff at Grant County Airport (SVC), Silver City, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The student pilot and flight instructor on board the airplane were not injured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the flight instructor's aircraft accident report, the pilot started the takeoff roll and the airplane ground looped prior to liftoff. The instructor tried to regain control but to no avail. The airplane veered off the left side of runway 26. The right wing main spar and several ribs were bent, and the right main landing gear was separated. No anomalies with the airplane were found. The accident report submitted by the pilot corroborated the instructor's report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4546E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4546E-2013-02-14), registration cancelled 2013-02-14, S/N 11CC-249, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 11CC - Registry model: [Aeronca 11CC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11cc) (registry code 0191110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11CC-249 - Airframe hours: 1584 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Tris D. Germain - Registered owner: Tris D. Germain - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 2010 - Departed: SVC, Silver City, NM - Destination: SVC, Silver City, NM - Airport: SVC, Grant County, runway 26, 6,802 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 76; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 20, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 4,000 total, 15 in this make and model, 3,600 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 8, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 677 total, 1 in this make and model, 677 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: SVC ## 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 20100811040689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100811040689A), Aug 11, 2010: Aeronca 11CC, Silver City, NM, Substantial damage. On the morning of the accident PIC received 1.1 hours of instruction in this a/c as transition training from pic's previous husky a/c. on take off roll winds… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76945. 1.2 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (Instructor) (item 1, .PDF, 657 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337467&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20(Instructor)-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 569 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337468&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20(Pilot)-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334952&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.