# NTSB SEA03LA088: Aeronca 7EC, N4712E, Oregon City, OR, May 24, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 2003, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Oregon City, OR - Coordinates: 45.299999, -122.611389 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3000&lon=-122.6114&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57048 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57048/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA088 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll. A tailwind and gusting conditions were factors. ## 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) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The student pilot reported that the wind direction was 90 degrees to the runway heading. During the landing roll, the pilot felt that he was going too fast and applied braking action hard enough that the tail felt light. About this time, he felt like something was pushing on the tail when the nose lowered and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The student pilot stated that after he exited the aircraft, he noted that the wind direction had shifted to a tailwind and was gusting. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 2003, about 1400 Pacific daylight time, an Aeronca 7EC, N4712E, registered to and operated by Lenair Corp, as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, nosed over during the landing roll at a private airstrip located in Oregon City, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from Mulino, Oregon about 15 minutes prior to the accident. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the student pilot stated that he circled the airstrip to check the wind direction before landing. The wind sock indicated a 90 degree crosswind to the runway direction. The student pilot set up for a long final approach and touched down about 150 to 200 feet down the runway. The student pilot stated that it looked like he was fast and applied braking action that was "hard enough that the tail felt light." About this time, he felt like something was pushing on the tail when the nose lowered and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The student pilot noted after he exited the aircraft that the wind direction had changed to a tailwind down the runway and gusting to 15 knots. The student pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4712E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4712E), registered now, S/N 7EC-56 (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: 7EC-56 - Airframe hours: 7206 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lenair Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 22, 2003 - Departed: 4S9, Mulino, OR - Destination: Oregon City, OR - Airport: Aeroacres ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 106 total, 35 in this make and model, 66 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: UAO, 8 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 20030524010289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030524010289A), May 24, 2003: Bbavia 7EC, Oregon City, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) Acting as a solo student pilot, jeffrey peterson landed N4712E at OG30 with a downwind component. He lost control of the airplane, and it flipped over on… ## 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 SEA02LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA080), May 12, 2002: Aeronca 7-EC (N4712E), Flying M Ranch, OR, substantial damage. 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. 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.