# NTSB CEN21LA037: Aeronca 11AC, N9171E, Wabash, IN, October 28, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 28, 2020, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Wabash, IN
- Coordinates: 40.761972, -85.79875 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7620&lon=-85.7987&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA -- Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102213
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102213/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102213
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA037

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to properly secure the airplane before beginning the engine start sequence.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was turning the engine through when it started unexpectedly. He attempted to get back into the cockpit to shut the engine down but was unsuccessful. The airplane self-taxied in an arc and struck the hangar before coming to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot noted that the magneto switch was in the BOTH position when he checked it after the accident, and he did not recall turning it on.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9171E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9171E), registered now, S/N 11AC-802 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 11AC (NO SERIES)
- 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: 11AC-802
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 1728
- Engines: Continental A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2020, 25 hours before
- Departed: IWH, Wabash, IN
- Airport: IWH, Wabash Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review September 17, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 208 total, 75 in this make and model, 208 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 7 °F, dew point 1 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: HHG, 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 20201028015939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201028015939A), Oct 28, 2020: Aeronca 11AC, Wabash, IN, Substantial damage. On 10/28/2020, [privacy data omitted] removed the aircraft from the hangar in preparation for flight. While hand turning the propeller in an attempt to prime…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 4, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102213. 2.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11581325&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN21LA037_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Conversation summary -- FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11580904&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20FAA%20(Cory%20Irwin)%20--%2009Nov2020-Rel.pdf
- Accident photos (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 908 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11581895&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN21LA037-Rel.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.

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