# NTSB NYC00LA264: Aeronca 11AC-991, N9354E, Gettysburg, PA, September 17, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 2000, 10:35 local (14:35 UTC) - Place: Gettysburg, PA - Coordinates: 39.830474, -77.229812 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8305&lon=-77.2298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50304 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA264 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50304/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA264 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after landing which resulted in the inadvertent ground loop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - aircraft parked/standing ## Analysis A pilot witnessed the airplane flare 'about 3-4 feet too high,' and touched down hard on the right main landing gear. The airplane then immediately veered 40-50 degrees to the right and headed toward a line of parked airplanes. The airplane struck a parked airplane, rotated on its right wing tip and came to rest on the nose cowling. The pilot stated in a written narrative, 'what occurred was a 'ground loop' after touchdown...' ## Factual narrative On September 17, 2000, about 1035 Eastern Daylight Time, an Aeronca 11AC-991, N9354E, was substantially damaged while landing at the Gettysburg Airport, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The certificated recreational pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a pilot, he observed the accident airplane land on Runway 24, a 3,096-foot long, 40-foot wide, asphalt runway. The airplane flared "about 3-4 feet too high," and touched down hard on the right main landing gear. The airplane then immediately veered 40-50 degrees to the right and headed toward a line of parked airplanes. The airplane struck a parked airplane, rotated on its right wing tip and came to rest on the nose cowling. The pilot stated in a written narrative, "what occurred was a 'ground loop' after touchdown..." The winds reported at an airport located about 18 miles to the east of the accident site, at 1053, were from 250 degrees at 9 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9354E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9354E), registered now, S/N 11AC-991, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 11AC-991 - Registry model: [Aeronca 11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac) (registry code 0191102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 991 - Airframe hours: 749 - Engines: Continental A-65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles J. Milheim - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 2000, 23 hours before - Departed: 8N8, DANVILLE, PA - Destination: W05 - Airport: W05, Gettysburg Airport, runway 24, 3,096 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 69 total, 20 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: THV, 18 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 20000917038999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000917038999A), Sep 17, 2000: Bbavia 11AC, Gettysburg, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot lost control of a/c during landing, veered off runway and collided with a parked a/c. accident aircraft (N9354E) sustained substantial damage to… ## Other investigations on N9354E (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA94LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA180), Jul 19, 1994: Aeronca 11AC (N9354E), Lutz, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The certified flight instructor's improper supervision of the student pilot during a wheel landing resulting in an on ground loss of control (inadvertent ground loop). Contributing to the accident… 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.