# NTSB GAA15LA019: Aeronca 7AC, N83643, Garrison, IA, March 9, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 9, 2015, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Garrison, IA - Coordinates: 42.143611, -92.143058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1436&lon=-92.1431&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 90928 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90928/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90928 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15LA019 ## Probable cause The malfunction of the right brake for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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 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: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane in variable wind conditions. During the landing roll, he applied both heel brakes. When the pilot released the brakes, the right brake did not release. The airplane veered right of the landing path on the dirt airstrip, and the left wing struck a power line pole. During postaccident examination, the brakes operated normally with no anomalies noted. ## Factual narrative On March 9, 2015, about 1800 Central date time, an Aeronca 7AC airplane, N83643, had a main landing gear right brake malfunction during the landing at a private dirt airstrip in Garrison Iowa. The airplane was operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the pilot and sole passenger were not injured. The airplane was stopped after the left wing contacted a power line pole. The pilot reported that he was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane in variable wind conditions. During the landing roll he applied both heel brakes. When the pilot released the brakes he reported that the right brake did not release. The airplane veered to the right of the landing path and the left wing contacted a power line pole. The airplane sustained substantial to its left wing. An FAA Certificated Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) mechanic identified normal operation of the brake during the airplane's recovery. At the direction of the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-In-Charge, on April 13, 2015 the brake assembly was disassembled and re-inspected by an FAA A&P Mechanic. No mechanical anomalies were found, and the brake operated normally before and after the inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83643](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83643), registered now, S/N 7AC-2321 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC (NO SERIES) - 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-2321 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 4909 - Engines: Continental A-65/75-8 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Noe Mark R - Registered owner: Noe Mark R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2014, 18 hours before - Departed: KVTI, Vinton, IA - Destination: Garrison, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2014; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 697.2 total, 66 in this make and model, 642.2 as pilot in command, 6.3 in the last 90 days, 1.1 in the last 30 days, 0.6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KVTI, 11 nm away ## 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 20150309004589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150309004589A), Mar 9, 2015: Aeronca 7AC, Garrison, IA, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed kvti and flew to pilot?s parents? Home located in the country. Pilot landed on gravel road in front of parent?s home. Landing was uneventful… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90928. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426868&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum For Record GAA15CA019 FAA Inspector Conversation (McNaughton) (item 2, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426869&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20GAA15CA019%20FAA%20Inspector%20Conversation%20(McNaughton)-Master.PDF - Memorandum For Record GAA15CA019 Pilot Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426871&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20GAA15CA019%20Pilot%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record Wx for Garrison, IA (item 4, .PDF, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431736&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20Wx%20for%20Garrison,%20IA-Master.PDF - Photograph 1: Photograph of the left wing damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426935&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%201%3A%20Photograph%20of%20the%20left%20wing%20damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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. --- 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.