# NTSB NYC96LA112: Aeronca 7EC, N1536E, New Castle, PA, May 21, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 20, 1996, 20:30 local (May 21, 1996, 00:30 UTC) - Place: New Castle, PA - Coordinates: 40.989826, -80.340789 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9898&lon=-80.3408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 1, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39186 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39186/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA112 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground swerve and an encounter with high grass and a ditch off the side of the runway. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated, '. . . I touched down in the three point configuration. During the rollout, the aircraft veered to the right. I counter controlled with full left rudder and brake. Control inputs were insufficient to counter the yaw. When the right wheel struck the tall grass, the additional drag pulled the aircraft off the runway.' The airplane then encountered a ditch and was damaged. Additionally, the pilot reported that there was no malfunction with the airplane, and that the wind was light and variable. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 1996, about 2030 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7EC, N1536E, was substantially damaged during the landing roll at New Castle Municipal, New Castle, Pennsylvania. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, about 1930. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated: After a normal visual approach in VFR conditions to runway 23, at New Castle Airport, New Castle, Pennsylvania, I touched down in the three point configuration. During the rollout, the aircraft veered to the right. I counter controlled with full left rudder and brake. Control inputs were insufficient to counter the yaw. When the right wheel struck the tall grass, the additional drag pulled the aircraft off the runway. The pilot also reported that there were no malfunctions with the airplane, and that the winds were light and variable. The pilot's total flight experience was approximately 10,300 hours, of which 10 hours were in the accident airplane. According to the Airport Facility Directory, runway 23 was a 4,000 foot long, 75 foot wide runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1536E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1536E-2017-03-24), registration cancelled 2017-03-24, S/N 7AC-5099, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 7EC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7EC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ec) (registry code 2110120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-5099 - Airframe hours: 10579 - Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alan J. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 18, 1996, 10 hours before - Departed: BVI, BEAVER FALLS, PA - Destination: 2G7 - Airport: 2G7, New Castle Municipal, runway 23, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 10,300 total, 10 in this make and model, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F ## 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 19960520037079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960520037079A), May 20, 1996: Bbavia 7EC, New Castle, PA, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing. Low time in tailwheel aircraft. ## Other investigations on N1536E (2) 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 CHI75FET07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75FET07), Sep 22, 1974: Aeronca 7EC (N1536E), Demotte, IN, substantial damage - [NTSB CHI71FBQ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71FBQ05), Aug 1, 1970: Aeronca 7EC (N1536E), Savoy, IL, substantial damage 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.