- Date
- April 12, 2004, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Grass Valley, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N39515Aeronca 65-TAC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20040412008309A
- Case key
- 59073
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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors in the accident were wind gusts and tailwind/crosswind conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot experienced a loss of directional control, veered off the runway, and collided with trees while on the landing roll. The pilot stated that the runway he was attempting to land on is solely used for landing at the airport, due to an excessive gradient. During the approach, the pilot noted tailwind conditions and opted to perform a wheel landing. While on the landing roll, the airplane encountered a gust of wind from the right, resulting in the tail being pushed to the left. The airplane veered to the right and began a 45-degree arc off the right side of the runway. The pilot applied full left rudder pressure and left brake to counteract the veer. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and collided with trees. The pilot stated that on the right side of the runway are two groups of dense trees. In between the tree groups, about halfway down the runway, air funnels through creating wind gusts. He thought this was why he encountered sudden crosswind gusts. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. The pilot reported that the winds were from 190 degrees at 5 knots.
Factual narrative
On April 12, 2004, about 1430 Pacific daylight time, an Aeronca 65-TAC, N39515, experienced a loss of directional control, veered off the runway, and collided with trees while on the landing roll at the Alta Sierra Airport (09CL), Grass Valley, California. The passenger/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed Watts-Woodland Airport, Woodland, California, about 1330, with the planned destination of 09CL. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was attempting to land on runway 01. He stated that runway 01 is solely used for landing at 09CL, due to runway 19 having an excessive upsloping gradient. During the approach, the pilot noted tailwind conditions and opted to perform a wheel landing. While on the landing roll, the airplane encountered a gust of wind from the right, resulting in the tail being pushed to the left. The airplane veered to the right and began a 45-degree arc off the right side of the runway. The pilot applied full left rudder pressure and left brake to counteract the veer. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and collided with trees.
The pilot stated that on the right side of the runway are two groups of dense trees. In between the tree groups, about halfway down the runway, air funnels through creating wind gusts. He thought this was why he encountered sudden crosswind gusts. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
The airport does not have a weather reporting station. The pilot reported that the winds were from 190 degrees at 5 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N39515
- Reported as
- Aeronca 65-TAC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- L4802TA
- Engine
- Continental A75-8, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gary Bennett
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed
- O41 · Woodland, CA
- Destination
- 09CL · Grass Valley, CA
- Airport
- 09CL · Alta Sierra Airport, runway 01
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
- 62
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2
- Flight hours
- 2,643 total · 6 in this make and model · 22 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.