Pilot Debrief

AERONCA 7AC near Valparaiso, IN — 2011-09-01

Final reportCEN11LA614
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Date
2011-09-01
Location
Valparaiso, IN, USA
Airport
VPZ
Aircraft
AERONCA 7AC
Registration
N83533
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the wear in the tailwheel assembly.

NTSB narrative

During landing, the airplane exited the right side of the runway and struck a ditch, and the main landing gear collapsed. No defects were found with the airplane's brake system. Photographic evidence of skid marks showed that the tailwheel experienced shimmy during the landing, which continued to the side of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed some play in the tailwheel assembly due to wear, which allowed the tailwheel to shimmy during the landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing when the airplane began to turn right uncontrollably.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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