LAX05CA096

NTSB accident investigation · Aeronca 7EC · Grass Valley, CA · February 14, 2005

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
February 14, 2005, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC)
Place
Grass Valley, CA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N4725EAeronca 7EC
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 8, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20050214002309A
Case key
61033

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

The airplane veered off the runway to the right, and the right wing collided with a tree. The pilot said he lost directional control during the roll out after landing. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

Factual narrative

On February 14, 2005, about 1530 Pacific standard time, an Aeronca 7EC, N4725E, veered off the runway on the roll out after landing and collided with a tree at Alta Sierra Airport, Grass Valley, California. Aeronca Flyers, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country personal flight departed Lincoln, California, about 1445, with a planned destination of Grass Valley, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 39 degrees 06 minutes north latitude and 121 degrees 03 minutes west longitude.

The pilot submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). He stated that he lost directional control during the landing rollout. The airplane veered to the right off the runway, and struck a tree with the right wing. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

Aircraft

Registration
N4725E
Reported as
Aeronca 7EC
Category
Airplane
Serial number
7EC-68
Engine
Continental O-200A, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Aeronca Flyers, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
KLHM · Lincoln, CA
Destination
09CL · Grass Valley, CA
Airport
09CL · Alta Sierra Skypark, runway 01, 2,800 × 50 ft, asphalt

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
66
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3
Seat
Front
Flight hours
1,711 total · 1 in this make and model · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
3,500 ft overcast

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.