# NTSB WPR25LA168: Aeronca 7BCM, N85311, Port Townsend, WA, June 2, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 2, 2025, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Port Townsend, WA · airport environment
- Coordinates: 48.053757, -122.80944 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0538&lon=-122.8094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 2025
- 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): 200263
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200263/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200263
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA168

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action and inadequate compensation for shifting wind conditions which resulted in a veer off the runway and collision with a sign.

## Findings

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

- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7BCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2110106), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7BCM, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=2110106), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7BCM, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2110106), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7BCM, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2110106), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor stated that they had completed two landings and had configured the airplane for a third full-stop landing. With the student pilot manipulating the controls, the airplane touched down on the centerline in a three-point landing attitude. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane began veering to the left and the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane. Despite her attempts, the airplane continued off the runway surface and the left landing gear collided with a sign. As a result of the collision, the left wing strut was damaged. The flight instructor noted that the wind was reported as light and variable. During the accident landing, the wind had shifted to a 180° tailwind of approximately 10 knots, initiating the left veer off the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N85311](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85311), registered now, S/N 7AC4050, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7BCM
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7BCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7bcm) (registry code 2110106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85-12](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-12) (registry code 17124, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC4050
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 351
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 30, 2025
- Departed: 0S9, Port Townsend, WA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 0S9, Jefferson County Intl, runway 09/27, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 22, 2025; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 12,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; student; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observed at: KTIW
- METAR: KTIW 021853Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 17/07 A3027 RMK AO2 SLP250 T01670067

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 2, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200263. 24.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 24.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19296880&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 333 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19296595&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z-%20Attachment%2002%20-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.

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