DFW06CA200

NTSB accident investigation · Aeronca 11AC · Searcy, AR · August 23, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 23, 2006, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
Place
Searcy, AR
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N9365EAeronca 11AC
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 29, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Little Rock, Arkansas
FAA report
20060823018509A
Case key
64371

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing wind conditions and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action to maintain directional control. A contributing factor was the crosswind.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterTakeoff - roll/run
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequateCopilot/second pilotCause
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Remedial action - delayedPilot in command(cfi)Cause

Analysis

The student pilot receiving instruction initiated the takeoff roll from the 6,000-foot long by 100-foot wide asphalt runway. The single-engine tailwheel-equipped airplane began to veer to the left. The flight instructor pilot took control of the airplane and announced to the student pilot that he had the controls. The 8,000-hour flight instructor applied full right rudder and retarded the throttle to idle in an attempt to regain directional control of the vintage airplane. The airplane then lifted-off the runway to about 3 feet of altitude and continued a left uncommanded turn for about 180 degrees prior to impacting the ground moving laterally perpendicular to the takeoff flight path. The flight instructor and the 8-hour student pilot were not injured. A Federal Aviation Administrator inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the landing gear collapsed and the left wing strut was destroyed. The weather the airport was reported as winds from 070 degrees at 7 knots; however, the flight instructor reported that upon exiting the aircraft, he noted that a 10 to 15 knot crosswind prevailed at the time of the mishap.

Factual narrative

The student pilot receiving instruction initiated the take-off roll from the 6,000-foot long by 100-foot wide asphalt runway. The single-engine tail wheel equipped airplane began to veer to the left. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and announced to the student pilot that he had the controls. The 8,000-hour flight instructor applied full right rudder and retarded the throttle to idle in an attempt to regain directional control of the vintage airplane. The airplane then lifted-off the runway to about 3 feet of altitude and continued a left uncommanded turn for about 180 degrees prior to impacting the ground moving laterally perpendicular to the take-off flight path. The flight instructor and the 8-hour student pilot were not injured. A Federal Aviation Administrator inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the landing gear collapsed and the left wing strut was destroyed. The weather the airport was reported as winds from 070 degrees at 7 knots; however, the flight instructor reported that upon exiting the aircraft, he noted that a 10 to 15 knot crosswind prevailed at the time of the mishap.

Aircraft

Registration
N9365E
Reported as
Aeronca 11AC
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1003
Airframe hours
819
Engine
Continental A65, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Teresa Augustine
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 1, 2005
Departed
KSRC · Searcy, AR
Destination
KSRC · Searcy, AR

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
45
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 1, 2006
Flight hours
8,000 total · 15 in this make and model · 7,030 as pilot in command · 170 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Student pilot
Injuries
None
Seat
Left

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
70° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F
Altimeter
30.10 inHg
Observed at
KSRC

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.