- Date
- May 28, 2018, 15:06 local (20:06 UTC)
- Place
- Vinton, IA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N84163Aeronca 7AC
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 5, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180528006259A
- Case key
- 97386
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting tailwind conditions.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, after overflying the airport to determine the wind direction, she landed in variable crosswind conditions. During touchdown "at or near stall speed," the tailwheel-equipped airplane encountered a wind gust. She added that the airplane veered left and that she attempted to correct with immediate application of right rudder and right brake. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway into the grass, and the right wingtip struck the ground. She added that she was able to taxi the airplane to park. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right wing spar, and right wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 140° at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot landed on runway 34.
Factual narrative
After overflying the airport to determine the wind direction, the pilot reported that, she landed in variable crosswind conditions, during touchdown "at or near stall speed", the tailwheel-equipped airplane encountered a gust of wind. She added, the airplane veered left and she attempted to correct with immediate application of right rudder and right brake. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway into the grass and the right wingtip struck the ground. She added that she was able to taxi the airplane to park. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right wing spar, and right wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 140° at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot landed on runway 34.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N84163
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7AC-2849
- Built
- 1946
- Airframe hours
- 988
- Engine
- Continental A65-8, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 3, 2018
- Departed
- GGI · Grinnell, IA
- Destination
- VTI · Vinton, IA
- Airport
- VTI · Vinton Veterans Memorial Arpk, runway 34, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 18
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot, Unknown
- Last flight review
- July 12, 2017
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 86.3 total · 19.7 in this make and model · 40.9 as pilot in command · 9.6 in the last 30 days · 1.5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 97 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.89 inHg
- Observed at
- KVTI
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.