# NTSB CEN11CA039: Aeronca 7AC, N81412, Mount Vernon, MO, October 9, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 9, 2010, 11:05 local (16:05 UTC) - Place: Mount Vernon, MO - Coordinates: 37.090278, -93.769447 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0903&lon=-93.7694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Kansas City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77669 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77669/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77669 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA039 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control while taxiing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 7AC, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 3,969 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 4,590 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he landed on the grass airstrip and, while taxiing, a gust of wind from the right resulted in the airplane ground looping to the left. The airplane struck a fence and the airplane incurred substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he landed on the grass airstrip and while taxiing, a gust of wind from the right caused the airplane to ground loop to the left. The pilot stated that he believed the gust of wind came from a powerline clearing that was perpendicular to the runway. The airplane struck a fence during the. Initially, the damage was not believed to be substantial. Later examination of the airplane revealed that the front spar of the right wing was cracked. There were no systems anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N81412](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N81412), registered now, S/N 7AC-5, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-5 - Airframe hours: 3194 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 2009 - Departed: MU78, Waynesville, MO - Destination: Mount Vernon, MO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: N/A, Private, runway 15, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 6,000 total, 75 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: HFJ, 16 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 20101009049079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101009049079A), Oct 9, 2010: Aeronca 7AC, Mount Vernon, MO, Substantial damage. The private airstrip is surrounded by trees and a hill on one side. The wind was gusty from the southeast. After landing, a gust caused the airplane to go into… ## Other investigations on N81412 (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 UNK64X0242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X0242), Jan 14, 1964: Aeronca 7AC (N81412), Troy, AL, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77669. 459 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 459 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340439&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. --- 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.