# NTSB OAK69D0249: Aeronca 7AC, N1611E, Sonoma, CA, March 6, 1969

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 6, 1969
- Place: Sonoma, CA · SONOMA, CA
- Location: 38.2903° N, 122.4598° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sonoma, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2903&lon=-122.4598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 191433
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK69D0249
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK69D0249

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0354   69/3/6    SONOMA,CALIF        AERONCA 7AC         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 74 TOTAL
        TIME - 1210                    N1611E              PX-  0  0  0  PRACTICE                  HOURS, 17 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SONOMA VALLEY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: ROLL
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT CROSS WIND 248-292 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- LFT CROSS WIND 90 DEG 20K GUSTING 35K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1611E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1611E), registered now, S/N 7AC-5176, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Sonoma Valley

## Other investigations on N1611E (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 WPR24LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA094), Feb 23, 2024: Aeronca 7AC (N1611E), Valley Springs, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to maneuver the airplane at a low altitude and inadvertently entering a box canyon where the airplane could not outclimb the rising terrain.

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.

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