# NTSB ERA24LA183: Aeronca 11AC, N3420E, Conyers, GA, March 31, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 31, 2024, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Conyers, GA · Pond at the end of runway at GA80 - Coordinates: 33.78233, -83.9888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7823&lon=-83.9888&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 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): 194104 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194104/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194104 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA183 ## Probable cause An encounter with shifting wind conditions, which resulted in the airplane using more runway than anticipated, an aborted takeoff, and subsequent runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure account for the potential of variable and shifting wind in his departure planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); 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) ## Analysis The pilot was taking off from a 2,700-ft-long runway and described that during the initial climb, the airplane’s climb rate was insufficient to avoid the trees at the departure end of the runway. The pilot attempted to land on the remaining runway; however, the airplane departed the far end of the runway, impacted a berm, and came to rest in a lake. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that the engine was operating normally and that there were no anomalies or mechanical failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Three of the closest official weather stations reported the wind was varying between being a quartering headwind to a quartering tailwind. The pilot reported receiving the weather conditions from an online, publicly available weather station, which reported that a headwind would be present for takeoff. He also provided a plot of the data from that station for the time surrounding accident, and it showed that while the wind direction was reported as he described, it had also begun to vary around that time, and continued to for some time afterward. Based on this information, it is likely that the variable wind conditions resulted in a shift in wind direction during takeoff that changed from a quartering headwind to a quartering tailwind. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3420E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3420E), registered now, S/N 11AC-1737, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 11AC (NO SERIES EXISTS) - 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-1737 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 2703.4 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 22, 2023, 3.5 hours before - Departed: GA80, Conyers, GA - Airport: GA80, Whispering Pines, runway 15, 2,600 × 20 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2022; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,014 total, 51.6 in this make and model, 892 as pilot in command, 5.9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: CVC, 11 nm away - METAR: METAR KCVC 311755Z AUTO 25008KT 190V290 10SM SCT044 23/13 A3006 RMK AO2= ## 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 20240331003759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240331003759A), Mar 31, 2024: Aeronca 11AC, Conyers, GA, Substantial damage. During climbout, the pilot observed an inadequate climb rate to clear the obstacles at the departure end of the runway. He attempted to land on the remaining… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 21, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194104. 13.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 11.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17141977&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20NTSB%206120.1%20-%20N3420E%20Mar%2031,%202024_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17142250&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20Pilot%20Statement%20N3420E%20-%20March%2031,%202024-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record - pilot (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17141140&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20MOR%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Area weather reports (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17150121&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20Weather%20at%20surrounding%20airports-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17150278&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05%20Investigation%20Photos-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.