# NTSB WPR23LA346: Aeronca 11AC, N46WR, Apple, ID, September 16, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 16, 2023, 14:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Apple, ID - Coordinates: 47.91807, -116.63943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9181&lon=-116.6394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 193090 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA346 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193090/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193090 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA346 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation due to the pilot’s incorrect movement of the fuel selector valve to OFF, which resulted in a loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported they were on a local flight and, while attempting to balance the fuel load, move the fuel selector valve from the “left” main tank position to the “right” position, the airplane subsequently lost engine power. The pilot was not able to restart the engine and performed a precautionary landing onto a road. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane veered off the road and into a ditch. The wings and engine truss sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that fuel was present in the fuel tanks and that the fuel selector valve positions available were WING TANKS (9 o’clock position), MAIN TANK (12 o’clock position), and OFF (3 o’clock position). The pilot reported that he moved the fuel selector valve from the “left” tank, which was actually the WING TANKS position, to the “right” tank, which was actually the OFF position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46WR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46WR), registered now, S/N 11AC1108 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 11AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac) (registry code 0191102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A-65-8F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-65-8f) (registry code 17330, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11AC1108 - Year built: 1946 - Engines: Continental A-65-8F reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert Neils - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2023 - Departed: WN92, Spokane, WA - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3 ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KCOE, 12 nm away - METAR: KCOE 162156Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 29/02 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP158 T02940022 PNO $ ## 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 20230916016769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230916016769A), Sep 16, 2023: Aeronca 11AC, Athol, ID, Substantial damage. PIC reported engine quit when he selected right wing fuel tank. Switched to main tank but could not restart engine. Engine not equipped with electric starter… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 2, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193090. 1.1 MB in all. - Mor- pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17077742&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Mor- FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17076927&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 978 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17077803&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20photos-Rel.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.