# NTSB ERA25LA085: Aeronca 15AC, N6665K, Loganville, GA, December 25, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 25, 2024, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Loganville, GA · On airport - Coordinates: 33.797055, -83.851292 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7971&lon=-83.8513&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - 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): 199489 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199489/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199489 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA085 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance of trees during an attempted go-around in sun glare. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was attempting to land when he lost his reference to the runway due to sun glare and attempted to go around. The airplane impacted trees, which resulted in both wings separating from the airplane. The pilot said there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that contributed to the accident and that the accident could have been prevented if he had tried to go around sooner. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6665K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6665K), registered now, S/N 15AC-533, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 15AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 15AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-15ac) (registry code 0191202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15AC-533 - Year built: 1950 - Airframe hours: 3298 - Engines: Continental O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 2024 - Airport: 6GA4, Spring Valley Farm, runway 06/24, 3,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 22, 2024; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,164 total, 110 in this make and model, 2,962 as pilot in command, 11.3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KD73, 58 nm away - METAR: METAR KD73 252055Z AUTO 10SM CLR 14/00 A3023 ## 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 20241225022459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241225022459A), Dec 25, 2024: Aeronca 15AC, Loganville, GA, Destroyed. Aeronca sedan had taken off around 3:50 pm and flew direct to a local lake and back to achieve an hour of flight time. The aircraft began with about 16 gallons… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199489. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18205706&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 621 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18206453&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%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.