# NTSB GAA20CA009: Aeronca 7AC, N2343E, Waynesburg, PA, October 10, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 10, 2019, 08:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Waynesburg, PA - Coordinates: 39.901111, -80.130554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9011&lon=-80.1306&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 May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100405 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100405/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100405 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA009 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll due to his foot slipping off the right pedal and becoming stuck between the pedal and fuselage frame, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a ditch. ## 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 · Student/instructed 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) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/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: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/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 flight instructor reported that, with the student pilot on the controls, during the landing roll, the student's right foot slipped off the right pedal and got stuck between the right pedal and fuselage frame. The airplane veered right, and the instructor corrected with left pedal, but the airplane continued right, exited the runway, and struck a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, with the student pilot on controls, during the landing roll, the student's right foot slipped off the right pedal and got stuck between the right pedal and fuselage frame. The airplane veered right, the flight instructor corrected with left pedal, but the airplane continued right, exited the runway to the right, struck a ditch and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2343E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2343E), registered now, S/N 7AC5921 (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: 7AC5921 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: WAY, Waynesburg, PA - Destination: WAY, Waynesburg, PA - Airport: WAY, Greene County, runway 27, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 81; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 33 total, 33 in this make and model, 4.5 as pilot in command - Flight instructor; age 70; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 18, 2018; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,210 total, 150 in this make and model, 2,113 as pilot in command, 13.1 in the last 90 days, 5.4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: KAFJ, 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 20191010020709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191010020709A), Oct 10, 2019: Aeronca 7AC, Waynesburg, PA, Substantial damage. Student pilot was receiving instruction on runway landing. This was his second. Prior landings were on grass. Upon landing on runway 27 the aircraft started… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100405. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479975&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479976&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.