# NTSB WPR09CA399: Aeronca 11CC, N4385E, El Cajon, CA, August 15, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 15, 2009, 13:48 local (20:48 UTC) - Place: El Cajon, CA - Coordinates: 32.82611, -116.972221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8261&lon=-116.9722&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 October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74537 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA399 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74537/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74537 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA399 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control while landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 11CC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0191110), [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 11CC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0191110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11CC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=0191110), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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 11CC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0191110), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 11CC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0191110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was returning from a local area flight to a neighboring airport and he was aware that a crosswind existed for the landing. During the landing roll out, the airplane started to fishtail and the pilot attempted to execute a go-around by applying full power. When the airplane reached an airspeed of about 40-45 mph it encountered a gust of wind from the left side, which lifted the left wing and caused the airplane to veer to the right side of the runway. The airplane then ground looped. The ground loop resulted in damage to the main landing gear attach points and to the fuselage structure. The pilot did not report experiencing any mechanical malfunction with the airplane during the accident flight. ## Factual narrative The pilot was returning from a local area flight to a neighboring airport and he was aware that a crosswind existed for the landing. During the landing roll out, the airplane started to fishtail and the pilot attempted to execute a go-around by applying full power. When the airplane reached an airspeed of about 40-45 mph it encountered a gust of wind from the left side, which lifted the left wing and caused the airplane to veer to the right side of the runway. The airplane then ground looped. The ground loop resulted in damage to the main landing gear attach points and to the fuselage structure. The pilot did not report experiencing any mechanical malfunction with the airplane during the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4385E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4385E-2018-03-05), registration cancelled 2018-03-05, S/N 11CC-201, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 11CC - Registry model: [Aeronca 11CC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11cc) (registry code 0191110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11CC-201 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2009, 3 hours before - Departed: SDM, San Diego, CA - Destination: SEE, San Diego, CA - Airport: SEE, Gillespie Field Airport, runway 27R, 5,341 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 11, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 311 total, 72 in this make and model, 163 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 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 20090815016989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090815016989A), Aug 15, 2009: Bbavia 11CC201, San Diego/El C, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was returning to his home base at Gillespie airport in el cajon, California. He was PIC in his Aeronca champ identified as N4385E and was… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74537. 313 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 313 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319095&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.