# NTSB CEN24LA044: Aeronca 7AC, N84692, DeWitt, AR, November 22, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 22, 2023, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: DeWitt, AR · airport
- Coordinates: 34.262278, -91.3075
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2623&lon=-91.3075&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 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): 193417
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193417/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193417
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA044

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of airplane directional control while landing.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · 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)
- [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)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: 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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that upon landing a crosswind “pushed” the airplane off the runway. The airplane encountered a ditch, crossed a taxiway, and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the left-wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident failures or malfunctions with the airplane which would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N84692](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N84692), registered now, S/N 7AC-3401, 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-3401
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 7421.5
- Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 2023, 1.2 hours before
- Departed: 1AR9, Lonoke, AR
- Destination: 5M1, DeWitt, AR
- Airport: 5M1, Dewitt Municipal, runway 36, 3,205 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 27, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 931 total, 156 in this make and model, 891 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: KSGT, 24 nm away
- METAR: SPECI KSGT 221832Z AUTO 28005KT 10SM BKN028 11/04 A3017

## 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 20231122017769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231122017769A), Nov 22, 2023: Aeronca 7AC, Dewitt, AR, Substantial damage. On November 22, 2023, on or about 1812Z, Aeronca 7A, was landing runway 36 at Dewitt municipal airport/Whitcomb field. The pilot stated a crosswind pushed the…

## Other investigations on N84692 (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 ATL91LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA159), Aug 15, 1991: Aeronca 7AC (N84692), Newton, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT FOR OBSTACLES.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193417. 6.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16451153&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN24LA044_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 711 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16452120&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN24LA044-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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