# NTSB GAA17CA288: Aeronca 7AC, N3046E, Lebanon, OR, May 15, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 15, 2017, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Lebanon, OR - Coordinates: 44.528331, -122.929725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5283&lon=-122.9297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95190 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA288 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95190/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95190 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA288 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [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) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: 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-aborted after touchdown: 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: 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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll in a crosswind, the airplane "started weathervaning…with some sideways sliding." He added that he decided to go around, but about 2 ft above the ground, "knowing I [he] couldn't climb fast enough to clear the top of the…[hangars] on the east side of the runway, I [he] pulled power back." The airplane touched down again, exited the left side of the runway, crossed a ditch, and came to rest on the taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the wind as variable, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot landed on runway 34. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll in a crosswind, the airplane "started weathervaneing me[him] with some sideways sliding". He added that he decided to go-ground, but about two feet above the ground, "knowing I [he] couldn't climb fast enough to clear the top of the hangers on the east side of the runway, I [he] pulled power back". The airplane touched down again, exited the left side of the runway crossed a ditch, and came to rest on the taxi way. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the wind as wind as variable at 10-15 knots and wind gusts at 15 knots. The pilot landed on runway 34. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3046E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3046E), registered now, S/N 7AC-6593 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-6593 - Engines: reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special); Standard, Normal - Departed: S12, ALBANY, OR - Destination: S30, Lebanon, OR - Airport: S30, Lebanon State, runway 34, 2,877 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; last flight review May 21, 2016; seat: front; flight hours: 2,850 total, 10 in this make and model, 2,850 as pilot in command, 0.8 in the last 90 days, 0.8 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KCVO, 15 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 20170515004759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170515004759A), May 15, 2017: Aeronca 7AC, Lebanon, OR, Substantial damage. The aircraft was landing on runway 34 at the Lebanon State Airport (S30) the winds at the time of landing were reported from the pilot as from 270 degrees… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95190. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457881&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 297 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457882&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.