# NTSB NYC96LA159: Aeronca 11AC, N9232E, Alexandria, NJ, July 26, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 1996, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Alexandria, NJ - Location: 40.5876° N, 75.0194° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ALEXANDRIA (N85), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5876&lon=-75.0194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39223 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39223/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA159 ## Probable cause failure of the commercial pilot to ensure that directional control was maintained during takeoff, which led to a ground swerve and collision with a fence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - fence ## Analysis A takeoff was initiated by a private pilot, with a commercial pilot in the right seat, who was teaching the private pilot how to fly a tailwheel equipped airplane. The commercial pilot did not possess a flight instructor rating. The airplane veered left, and after it stopped, one of the tailwheel centering springs was found disconnected. The spring was reconnected. The pilots then swapped seats, taxied back, and attempted to takeoff again. While of the second takeoff roll, the airplane veered left again, went off the runway, and hit a fence. During a postaccident examination of the airplane, the attach point for the right rudder cable was found to be bent forward, which slackened the cable. Neither pilot was current to carry a passenger in a tailwheel equipped airplane. The commercial pilot did not have a current FAA medical certificate or biennial flight review. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 1996, about 1800 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 11AC, N9232E, was substantially damaged during takeoff at the Alexandria Airport, Alexandria, New Jersey. The commercial pilot and private pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: "I was teaching a new owner (1/4) to taxi. He had no experience in aircraft. He was a fully rated private pilot (current in all aspects) and was P.I.C. This was a taxi lesson as he had no time in the plane. His first taxi went left. He forgot he had brakes. I pulled hard right and hit right rudder. Took control - made a right (in retrospect) aileron turn. Back to tie down. Noticed water in field and high speed taxi through it. Found spring (rudder off) reattached it. Took over left seat to teach proper brake usage and tail lift. When I lifted the tail it went hard left, through an illegal fence (10 yards from runway)...Found rudder horn bent 90 degrees, rudder control impossible. No intent was made to fly...." The airplane was examined by an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector who reported: "...the right rudder pedal did not work and was found in the forward position. This was due to the cable connection point being bent 90 degree which slackened the cable. The crack at the connection point looked bright and new." According to an interview conducted by the FAA with the commercial pilot on July 29, 1996: "...During the interview ...[the commercial pilot]...confirmed that he was the Pilot-In-Command...." Additionally, during the interview, it was disclosed that the pilot did not meet recent experience for carrying passengers, no current medical, and no current flight review. According to the Airport/Facility Directory, runway 26 was 2550 feet long, 50 feet wide, and had an asphalt surface. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9232E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9232E), registered now, S/N 11AC-866, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 11AC - Registry model: [Aeronca S11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-s11ac) (registry code 0191104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11AC-866 - Airframe hours: 1000 - Engines: Continental C-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Clark F. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1996, 0 hours before - Departed: N85 - Airport: N85, Alexandria, runway 26, 2,550 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: expired; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °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 19960726026099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960726026099A), Jul 26, 1996: Bbavia S11AC, Pittstown, NJ, Substantial damage. Swerved off runway on takeoff and hit fence. Pilot checking out new owner not current. No medical or biennial review 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.