# NTSB WPR26LA165: Aeronca 7FC, N7541B, Bend, OR, April 17, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 17, 2026, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Bend, OR - Coordinates: 44.093375, -121.20261 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0934&lon=-121.2026&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2026 - 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): 202857 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202857/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202857 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA165 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the rotor wash from a nearby helicopter. ## 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 7FC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2110124), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Turbulence: wake turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7FC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032025/cases.md?model=2110124), [All aircraft, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032025/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7FC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2110124), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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); cases with it: [Aeronca 7FC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2110124), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Aeronca 7FC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2110124), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7FC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2110124), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway. The pilot applied right rudder input and increased engine power to raise the tail as he maneuvered the airplane toward the runway surface. As the airplane rolled onto the runway surface, it veered to the right, exited the runway, and continued onto the parallel taxiway. The pilot firmly applied both brakes to avoid a fuel island and the airplane subsequently nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 16, with light and variable wind. The pilot reported that there was a helicopter to the left of the runway on a parallel taxiway and felt that its rotor wash was a factor in the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7541B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7541B), registered now, S/N 7FC-44 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7FC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7FC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7fc) (registry code 2110124) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7FC-44 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 4086 - Engines: Continental C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2026, 15 hours before - Departed: S33, Madras, OR - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: BDN, Bend Municipal Airport, runway 16, 5,201 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 12, 2025; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,943 total, 49 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KBDN - METAR: METAR KBDN 171835Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 10/M09 A3019 RMK AO2 ## 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 20260417003319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260417003319A), Apr 17, 2026: Aeronca 7FC, Bend, OR, Substantial damage. The pilot reported he experienced a strong veer to the left after landing on runway 16 and the plane ran into the grass between the runway and taxiway bravo.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202857. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20453735&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 346 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20454377&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-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.