# NTSB CEN14LA431: Aeronca S11AC, N4240E, Boulder Junction, WI, August 10, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 2014, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Boulder Junction, WI - Coordinates: 46.1375, -89.64611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1375&lon=-89.6461&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 13, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; MKE FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89881 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA431 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89881/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89881 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA431 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper runway selection, which resulted in a tailwind landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca S11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0191104), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 S11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0191104), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Aeronca S11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=0191104), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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 S11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0191104), [All aircraft, 9,295 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. - [Approach: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Aeronca S11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0191104), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca S11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0191104), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca S11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0191104), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis A witness reported observing the tailwheel-equipped airplane land; the airplane landed on runway 5. At the beginning of the landing roll, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and impacted trees. At the time of the accident, the wind was from the south-southwest at 3 knots with gusts to 10 knots; therefore, a gusting tailwind prevailed for the landing runway at the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 2014, at 1000 central daylight time, an Aeronca S11AC, N4240E, veered off the runway and impacted trees during landing roll on runway 5 (3,170 feet by 165 feet, turf) at Boulder Junction Payzer Airport (BDJ), Boulder Junction, Wisconsin. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane received substantial damage. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated from Ralph, Michigan and was destined to BDJ. The Federal Aviation Administration coordinator for the accident investigation stated that he confirmed mechanical integrity of the airplane's flight controls, brakes, tail wheel, seat, and other systems during a post-accident examination of the airplane. He stated that on the day of the accident, the winds were south-southwest at 3 knots with gusts to 10 knots. The pilot made a tailwind landing. The pilot said that he may have made a mistake but did not know how. A witness said he observed the landing as a normal three point stall and as soon as the airplane began to roll out, it turned 20 degrees to the right and went into trees. The pilot did not provide a required National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report and did not provide requested aircraft and pilot logbook(s) to the Federal Aviation Administration coordinator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4240E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4240E-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 11AC-S97, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA S11AC - Registry model: [Aeronca S11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-s11ac) (registry code 0191104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200a) (registry code 17404, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11AC-S97 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 2538 - Engines: Continental O-200A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Ralph, MI - Destination: BDJ, Boulder Junction, WI - Airport: BDJ, Boulder Junction Payzer Airpor, runway 5, 3,170 × 165 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, unknown; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 300 total, 300 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KD25, 10 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 20140810012739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140810012739A), Aug 10, 2014: Aeronca S11AC, Boulder Jujncti, WI, Substantial damage. On August 10, 2014 at 1100 local time an Aeronca chief, N4240E on landing roll out on runway 5 at Boulder Junction Airport, Boulder Junction Wisconsin veered… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 11, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89881. 106 KB in all. - Record of Correspondence - FAA (item 1, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Correspondence%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427722&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-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.