# NTSB SEA02LA080: Aeronca 7-EC, N4712E, Flying M Ranch, OR, May 12, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 12, 2002, 13:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Flying M Ranch, OR - Coordinates: 45.190559, -123.240806 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1906&lon=-123.2408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54688 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54688/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54688 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA080 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while applying the brakes during the landing roll. Factors include a tailwind and trees at the far end of the airstrip. ## Analysis While flying past the Flying M Airstrip en route to another airport, the pilot decided to land there. He circled the airport twice to check traffic and the winds, and then entered a left hand pattern. He rolled out on final with a slight tailwind, but was still able to touch down approximately where he intended. Almost immediately after touching down on the 2130 foot strip, the pilot started applying the brakes because the tree line at the far end appeared closer than he had expected. As he attempted to bring the aircraft to a stop, it drifted off the right side of the landing surface, and its wing impacted the propeller of a parked aircraft. The pilot later said that he believes that if he had continued a normal rollout and applied the brakes after the aircraft had a chance to slow, he would have had no problem stopping in the required distance. ## Factual narrative On May 12, 2002, approximately 1315 Pacific daylight time, an Aeronca 7-EC, N4712E, collided with a parked aircraft after departing the runway surface during the landing roll at Flying M Ranch, Oregon. The airline transport pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft, which had been rented from Lenair, Inc., of Hubbard, Oregon, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Lenhardt Field, Hubbard, Oregon, about 45 minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, he was en route to Independence, Oregon, when he flew past Flying M Ranch and decided to land there. After circling the strip a couple of times to check traffic and the winds, he entered the pattern, and eventually turned final with a slight tailwind. Although he touched down near where he desired, the tree line at the far end of the field suddenly appeared closer than he expected. He therefore immediately got on the brakes, which resulted in the aircraft starting to veer toward the right side of the runway. Although he attempted to keep the aircraft within the confines of the runway surface, he was unable to do so, and its right wing impacted the propeller of a parked aircraft off the right side of the landing area. In a telephone interview with the Investigator-In-Charge (IIC), the pilot said that he believes that if he had continued a normal rollout and applied brakes after the aircraft had slowed, he would have had no problem stopping in the required distance. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4712E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4712E), registered now, S/N 7EC-56 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 7-EC - 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: 7EC56 - Airframe hours: 6369 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lenair, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2002, 30 hours before - Departed: 7S9, Lenhardt Field, OR - Destination: OR05, Flying M Ranch, OR - Airport: OR05, Flying M Ranch, runway 25, 2,130 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 5, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 15,500 total, 85 in this make and model, 14,500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - 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 20020512010369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020512010369A), May 12, 2002: Bbavia 7EC, Yamhill, OR, No damage. (-23) Pilot stated he had just gotten requalified in N4712E, an Aeronca-7EC tailwheel aircraft. On may 12, 2002, on a pleasure flight initiated from lenhardt… ## Other investigations on N4712E (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 SEA03LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA088), May 24, 2003: Aeronca 7EC (N4712E), Oregon City, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll. A tailwind and gusting conditions were factors. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54688. 310 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 278 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436566&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40165748&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF 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.