# NTSB WPR09CA280: Aeronca 7AC, N3370E, El Cajon, CA, May 9, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 9, 2009, 15:38 local (22:38 UTC)
- Place: El Cajon, CA
- Coordinates: 32.82611, -116.972503 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8261&lon=-116.9725&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73986
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA280
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73986/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73986
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA280

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing with gusting crosswinds.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight school's operations manager reported that the pilot was previously checked out in the accident model of airplane, and he was authorized to rent the airplane. On the day of the accident flight, the pilot and passenger departed for a planned local area flight to a neighboring airport. Air traffic control tower personnel reported that the pilot's landing approach to Runway 27L was uneventful. During the landing roll out, the airplane veered to the left of the runway. The pilot applied rudder pressure to correct the airplane's course, and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane departed the runway and contacted a 6-foot drainage ditch. The conventional landing gear sheared off, a wing lift strut bent, a wing impacted the ground, and structural tube frames/longerons in the airplane's belly were deformed upward. The pilot did not report experiencing any mechanical malfunction with the airplane during the accident flight. He stated that during the landing he had encountered a wind gust, which blew the airplane to the side of the runway. In taking corrective action to realign the airplane, he "reacted...too much." At 1539, the airport reported its surface wind was from 240 degrees at 10 knots, with 15-knot gusts.

## Factual narrative

The flight school's operations manager reported that the pilot was previously checked out in the accident model of airplane, and he was authorized to rent the airplane. On the day of the accident flight, the pilot and passenger departed for a planned local area flight to a neighboring airport. Air traffic control tower personnel reported that the pilot's landing approach to Runway 27L was uneventful. During the landing roll out, the airplane veered to the left of the runway. The pilot applied rudder pressure to correct the airplane's course, and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane departed the runway and contacted a 6-foot drainage ditch. The conventional landing gear sheared off, a wing lift strut bent, a wing impacted the ground, and structural tube frames/longerons in the airplane's belly were deformed upward. The pilot did not report experiencing any mechanical malfunction with the airplane during the accident flight. He stated that during the landing he had encountered a wind gust, which blew the airplane to the side of the runway. In taking corrective action to realign the airplane, he "reacted...too much." At 1539, the airport reported its surface wind was from 240 degrees at 10 knots, with 15-knot gusts.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3370E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3370E), registered now, S/N 7AC-6778, built 1947 (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
- Serial number: 7AC-6778
- Airframe hours: 11401
- Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: First Flight Corp
- Registered owner: First Flight Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 2008, 99 hours before
- Departed: SDM, San Diego, CA
- Destination: SEE, El Cajon, CA
- Airport: SEE, Gillespie Field, runway 27L, 2,738 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 101 total, 5 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: SEE

## 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 20090509009259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090509009259A), May 9, 2009: Bbavia 7AC, San Diego, CA, Minor damage. (-23) PIC was executing a touch and go to runway 27L at Brown field airport, San Diego, CA in a tailwheel Aeronca champ. On touchdown, with a crosswind,…

## Other investigations on N3370E (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 CEN21LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA006), Oct 5, 2020: Aeronca 7AC (N3370E), Salida, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a steel object.

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73986. 11.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314434&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Email Reporting Times of ATC Services (item 2, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314435&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Email%20Reporting%20Times%20of%20ATC%20Services-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Form 8020.9, Aircraft Accident/Incident Preliminary Notice (item 3, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314436&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Form%208020.9,%20Aircraft%20Accident%2FIncident%20Preliminary%20Notice-Redacted.PDF
- First Flight Corp Report of Loss (item 4, .PDF, 839 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314445&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=First%20Flight%20Corp%20Report%20of%20Loss-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1: Airplane, left side. Main landing gear (MLG) & wings removed. (item 5, .PDF, 918 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314438&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane,%20left%20side.%20Main%20landing%20gear%20(MLG)%20%26%20wings%20removed.-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Left side showing belly damage aft of MLG attach point. (item 6, .PDF, 869 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314439&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Left%20side%20showing%20belly%20damage%20aft%20of%20MLG%20attach%20point.-Master.PDF
- Photo 3: Left side (close up). Frame deformation aft of MLG attach point. (item 7, .PDF, 945 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Left%20side%20(close%20up).%20Frame%20deformation%20aft%20of%20MLG%20attach%20point.-Master.PDF
- Photo 4: Right side, with MLG removed. (item 8, .PDF, 895 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314441&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%3A%20Right%20side,%20with%20MLG%20removed.-Master.PDF
- Photo 5: Right side bottom fuselage, showing bent frame. (item 9, .PDF, 836 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314442&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%3A%20Right%20side%20bottom%20fuselage,%20showing%20bent%20frame.-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.

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