# NTSB ERA12CA499: Aeronca 7CCM, N83129, Norridgewock, ME, August 7, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 7, 2012, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Norridgewock, ME
- Coordinates: 44.709167, -69.859725 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7092&lon=-69.8597&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 5, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA Portland FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84601
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA499
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84601/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84601
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA499

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## 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 7CCM, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2110110), [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 7CCM, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2110110), [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 7CCM, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot stated that while landing on runway 21, immediately following contact of the main landing gear onto the runway, the right wing “came up.” The pilot compensated with left rudder and right aileron and kept the aircraft centered on the runway. Shortly thereafter, the right wing raised up a second time. The airplane then departed the right side of the runway and came to rest after the right wing impacted a tree 270 feet from the runway. A flight instructor at the airport stated that the wind favored runway 21 but had reversed direction during the accident flight. A meteorological report from the airport indicated wind from 190 degrees at 3 knots about the time of the accident, with no wind speeds exceeding 3 knots throughout the duration of the landing roll. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing spar. The examination did not reveal any evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane following the accident.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot stated that while landing on runway 21, immediately following contact of the main landing gear onto the runway, the right wing “came up.” The pilot compensated with left rudder and right aileron and kept the aircraft centered on the runway. Shortly thereafter, the right wing raised up a second time. The airplane then departed the right side of the runway and came to rest after the right wing impacted a tree located 270 feet from the runway. A certified flight instructor at the airport stated that the wind favored runway 21 but had reversed direction during the accident flight. A meteorological report from the airport indicated wind from 190 degrees at 3 knots about the time of the accident with no wind speeds exceeding 3 knots throughout the duration of the landing roll. Post-accident inspection revealed substantial damage to the right wing spar. The inspection did not reveal any evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane following the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83129](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83129), registered now, S/N 1787, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7CCM
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7CCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ccm) (registry code 2110110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1787
- Airframe hours: 1146
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES 95 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 2012, 32 hours before
- Departed: KOLD, Old Town, ME
- Destination: KOWK, Norridgewock, ME
- Airport: KOWK, Central Main Airport of Norrid, runway 21, 3,999 × 90 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 60; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; flight hours: 36 total, 25 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KOWK

## 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 20120807017039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120807017039A), Aug 7, 2012: Aeronca 7CCM, Norridgewock, ME, Substantial damage. Student pilot returning from an authorized solo cross country flight, landed on runway 21 (3999FEET long) while in the landing roll, the student in a…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84601. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375277&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Interview Summary and Statement (item 2, .PDF, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375272&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary%20and%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Instructor Interview Summary (item 3, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Instructor%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Excerpts from Airframe and Engine Log Books (Most Recent Annual) (item 4, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375271&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Log%20Books%20(Most%20Recent%20Annual)-Redacted.PDF
- Norridgewock (OWK) Meteorological Observations (item 5, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375367&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Norridgewock%20(OWK)%20Meteorological%20Observations-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Overview of Wreckage (item 6, .PDF, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375097&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Overview%20of%20Wreckage-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - View of Right Wing Tip (item 7, .PDF, 242 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375268&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20View%20of%20Right%20Wing%20Tip-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.

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