# NTSB ERA11CA163: Aeronca 11AC, N9120E, Randolph, NY, July 20, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 20, 2010, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Randolph, NY - Coordinates: 42.154167, -79.016387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1542&lon=-79.0164&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Rochester, New York - NTSB case key (mKey): 78427 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78427/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78427 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA163 ## Probable cause The certified flight instructor's delayed response to the student pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a building. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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 11AC, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0191102), [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. - [Takeoff: 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) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot was receiving instruction in a tailwheel equipped airplane. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to veer to the right, exited the runway, and impacted the corner of a building, resulting in substantial damage to the forward and aft spars of the left wing. The CFI reported that during the takeoff roll, the student pilot was pushing heavily on the right brake. According to the student pilot, about 300 feet into the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the right a few degrees and the CFI took authority of the airplane's controls. The airplane continued to veer to the right and prior to impacting the building, the student pilot retarded the throttle. Both pilots reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the certificated flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot was receiving instruction in a tailwheel equipped airplane. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to veer to the right, exited the runway, and impacted the corner of a building, resulting in substantial damage to the forward and aft spars of the left wing.. The CFI reported that during the takeoff roll, the student pilot was pushing heavily on the right brake. According to the student pilot, about 300 feet into the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the right a few degrees and the CFI took control of the airplane. The airplane continued to veer to the right and prior to impacting the building, the student pilot retarded the throttle. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board was notified of this accident on February 25, 2011. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9120E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9120E-2018-09-14), registration cancelled 2018-09-14, S/N 11AC-754 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 11AC - 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-754 - Airframe hours: 1022 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 27, 2010, 7 hours before - Departed: 85NK, Randolph, NY - Destination: N56, Great Valley, NY - Airport: 85NK, Campbell Field Airport, runway 26, 2,495 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 59; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 27,500 total, 200 in this make and model, 17,500 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 62; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 33 total, 10 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: JHW, 20 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 20100720055799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100720055799A), Jul 20, 2010: Aeronca 11AC, Randolph, NY, Substantial damage. On July 20, 2010 the student pilot, [privacy data omitted] conducted a preflight inspection of Aeronca chief, N-9120E. There were no mechanical irregularities… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 2, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78427. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (CFI) (item 1, .PDF, 347 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345037&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(CFI)-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Student/Owner (item 2, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345067&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Student%2FOwner-Redacted.PDF - New York State Surface Observations (item 3, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345039&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=New%20York%20State%20Surface%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo of Left Wing Spar (1 Embedded Photo Courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 490 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345080&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Left%20Wing%20Spar%20(1%20Embedded%20Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20the%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.