# NTSB ERA22LA063: Aeronca 7AC, N3063E, Denver, NC, November 13, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 13, 2021, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Denver, NC - Coordinates: 35.591629, -81.080507 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5916&lon=-81.0805&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104261 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104261/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104261 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA063 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a gusting crosswind. ## 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) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [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 pilot reported that, during the landing flare, a “strong down draft,” which was wind turbulence from a tree line, resulted in a “hard” landing. Then, during the landing roll, another gust of wind lifted the right wing, the left wing struck the ground, and the airplane began to ground loop. The pilot attempted to correct with aileron, rudder, and brake; however, the airplane impacted trees and shrubs about 25 ft from the runway. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 21, with wind from 300° at 5 knots gusting to 14 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3063E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3063E), registered now, S/N 7AC-6652, 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-6652 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 4517 - Engines: Continental A-65-6F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2021 - Departed: 01SC, York, SC - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 6NC1, Little Mountain, runway 03/21, 3,000 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 2, 2019; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 29,530 total, 450 in this make and model, 25,342 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5.4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: SVH, 12 nm away - METAR: KSVH 131655Z AUTO 30005G14KT 10SM CLR 15/01 A2992 RMK AO2 T01470013 ## 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 20211113019469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211113019469A), Nov 13, 2021: Aeronca 7AC, Maiden, NC, Minor damage. On approach to runway 21 at 6NC1, during the base leg to final, the pilot experienced light chop and minor fluctuations in airspeed. Prior to flare the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104261. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12989210&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA063_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 726 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12988229&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA063-Rel.pdf - Weather observations (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12989472&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Observations-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.