# NTSB GAA18CA398: Aeronca 7CCM, N81768, Palmer, AK, July 7, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 7, 2018, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.566944, -148.550277 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5669&lon=-148.5503&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 97712
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA398
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97712/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97712
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA398

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, an attempted go-around, and a subsequent nose-over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 7CCM, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While landing off airport on an unimproved landing site, the tailwheel-equipped airplane landed hard and bounced. The pilot applied full power to go around, but the airplane bounced again before impacting trees and terrain. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest inverted on a river bank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

While landing off airport, on an unimproved landing site, the tailwheel-equipped airplane landed hard and bounced. The pilot applied full power to go-around, but the airplane bounced again before impacting trees and terrain. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest inverted on a river bank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81768](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81768-2021-07-31), registration cancelled 2021-07-31, S/N 7AC391, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aeronca 7CCM (No Series)
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7CCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ccm) (registry code 2110110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC391
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 4073
- Engines: Continental C90-8F 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2018
- Departed: AK1, Palmer, AK
- Destination: Palmer, AK
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 118 total, 103 in this make and model, 71 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: PAAQ, 16 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 20180707009299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180707009299A), Jul 7, 2018: Aeronca 7CCM, Palmer, AK, Minor damage. Departed butte strip approximately 0830 on 7 July and flew to Friday Creek Strip. Pilot states he made five passes over the strip before attempting to land.…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97712. 1.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 843 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 567 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-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.

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