# NTSB CEN21LA324: Aeronca 7AC, N84318, Rhinelander, WI, July 15, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 15, 2021, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Rhinelander, WI - Coordinates: 45.630271, -89.470576 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6303&lon=-89.4706&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103497 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA324 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103497/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103497 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA324 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## 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, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 3,958 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2110102), [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. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that the purpose of the flight was for the sport pilot, who had not flown in several years, to accrue flight time for currency requirements. They completed flight maneuvers in the local area and returned for landing practice. During the first landing roll, the airplane drifted slightly to the right and the pilot corrected with left rudder input. The airplane veered hard left and struck a runway sign with the right wingtip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. After the accident an examination of the tailwheel confirmed that the tailwheel was operating normally and there were no issues noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84318](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N84318), registered now, S/N 7AC-3018, built 1946 (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-3018 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 3169 - Engines: Continental Motors A75-8 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Leitner Matthew J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 6, 2020 - Departed: RHI, Rhinelander, WI - Airport: RHI, Rhinelander-Oneida County, runway 09/27, 6,799 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 58; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 30, 2020; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,969 total, 75 in this make and model, 5,804 as pilot in command, 142 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 50 total, 10 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KRHI - METAR: KRHI 152153Z AUTO 34007KT 10SM FEW060 24/09 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP164 T02390089 ## 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 20210715011689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210715011689A), Jul 15, 2021: Aeronca 7AC, Rhinelander, WI, Substantial damage. Local instruction flight, ground-looper on landing rollout damaging airport runway sign. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103497. 6.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12510666&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20pilot%20(esign)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12510809&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Correspondence - FAA (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12518583&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20-%20FAA%20(tailwheel%20exam%20good)-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. --- 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.