# NTSB ERA22LA072: Aeronca O58B, N47523, Jonestown, PA, November 18, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 18, 2021, 12:30 UTC - Place: Jonestown, PA - Coordinates: 40.408424, -76.503853 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4084&lon=-76.5039&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 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): 104289 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104289/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104289 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA072 ## Probable cause The pilot’s incorrect glide path and landing flare, which resulted in a collision with obstacles on final approach and a hard 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 0-58B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0191006), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 0-58B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0191006), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 0-58B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=0191006), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Aeronca 0-58B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=0191006), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 0-58B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0191006), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while on short final he slowed the airplane down and “flared too soon over the runway which caused a hard landing.” Subsequently, the main landing gear collapsed on the grass runway and the airplane skidded to a stop upright. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. Photographs of the accident site revealed that a small bird house attached to a metal pole was struck by the tail of the airplane. The pole was about 5 ft tall co-located with a white fence and was located about 35-40 ft prior to a yellow tire that marked the location of the grass runway’s threshold. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47523](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47523), registered now, S/N 058B-10753, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA O58B (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Aeronca 0-58B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-0-58b) (registry code 0191006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 058B-10753 - Year built: 1943 - Airframe hours: 1519 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 11, 2021 - Departed: 9N7, Fredericksburg, PA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 8PA1, Dee Jay, runway 09/27, 1,800 × 125 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2020; seat: front; flight hours: 609 total, 54 in this make and model, 609 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; seat: rear ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: MUI, 3 nm away - METAR: METAR KMUI 181656Z 20003KT 10SM FEW070 FEW250 14/10 A2998 RMK AO2A SLP157 T01400100= ## 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 20211118022049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211118022049A), Nov 18, 2021: Aeronca 0-58B, Jonestown, PA, Substantial damage. On November 18, 2021, at approximately 1630Z, the PIC, on a 14 CFR part 91 flight from farmers pride airport (9N7) to Dee Jay Airport (8PA1), attempted to land… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104289. 15.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 12.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13284736&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120.1%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 274 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13284805&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20-%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 6 photos, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13283705&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.