# NTSB WPR24LA094: Aeronca 7AC, N1611E, Valley Springs, CA, February 23, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 22, 2024, 16:30 local (Feb 23, 2024, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Valley Springs, CA - Coordinates: 38.169615, -120.7559 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1696&lon=-120.7559&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - 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: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 193832 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193832/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193832 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA094 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to maneuver the airplane at a low altitude and inadvertently entering a box canyon where the airplane could not outclimb the rising terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that en route to her destination, she was practicing low-altitude ground reference maneuvers. The last maneuver ended with the airplane in a box canyon. The airplane had insufficient altitude, airspeed, and distance from the canyon walls to turn around. As the airplane approached the end of the canyon, she realized the airplane would not be able to out-climb the rising terrain. She looked for a clear spot to land and reduced the throttle to idle while shutting off the fuel. The pilot tried to maneuver to avoid taller terrain and touched down in between trees with the wings impacting them. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1611E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1611E), registered now, S/N 7AC-5176, built 1946 (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-5176 - Year built: 1946 - Engines: Continental Motors A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 23, 2023 - Departed: KCPU, Calaveras, CA - Destination: KF72, Elk Grove, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 29, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 265 total, 85 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KCPU, 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 20240222001569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240222001569A), Feb 22, 2024: Aeronca 7AC, Calaveras, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot was returning to her home field after completing a lesson in preparation for a commercial pilot practical test. She stated while enroute she was… ## Other investigations on N1611E (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 OAK69D0249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK69D0249), Mar 6, 1969: Aeronca 7AC (N1611E), Sonoma, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193832. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17442963&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2001%20-%206120_Redacted-Rel(Flat)-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 529 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16860168&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photos-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.