# NTSB WPR14CA145: Aeronca 7DC, N817DC, Fallon, NV, March 24, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 24, 2014, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Fallon, NV - Coordinates: 39.499443, -118.748886 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4994&lon=-118.7489&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 18, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88963 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88963/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88963 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA145 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a tailwind. ## 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 7DC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2110116), [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 7DC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2110116), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Aeronca 7DC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2110116), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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 7DC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2110116), [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 7DC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2110116), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Aeronca 7DC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2110116), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the third landing of the day in the tailwheel equipped airplane, the wind switched to a quartering tailwind. After touchdown the airplane began to veer to the right. Despite pilot control inputs, the airplane continued to the right and departed the runway surface onto the dirt. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted; its left wing and rudder sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the third landing of the day in the tailwheel equipped airplane, the wind switched to a quartering tailwind. After touchdown the airplane began to veer to the right. Despite pilot control inputs, the airplane continued to the right and departed the runway surface onto the dirt. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted; its left wing and rudder sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N817DC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N817DC), registered now, S/N 7DC81, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7DC (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Aeronca 7DC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7dc) (registry code 2110116) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7DC81 - Year built: 1948 - Airframe hours: 3055 - Engines: Continental Motors C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 2014, 2 hours before - Departed: FLX, Fallon, NV - Destination: FLX, Fallon, NV - Airport: FLX, Fallon Municipal Airport, runway 3, 5,703 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 17, 2012; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 402 total, 45 in this make and model, 178 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: NFL, 5 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 20140324002839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140324002839A), Mar 24, 2014: Aeronca 7DC, Fallon, NV, Substantial damage. Pilot was practicing take offs and landings in a tail wheel aircraft. The pilot stated that after touchdown, during taxi operations, a gust of wind hit the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 2, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88963. 431 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 431 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412960&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.