Aeronca 7AC N85372

Summary

On 1 March 2014 at about 19:30 local time, a Aeronca 7AC registered N85372 was involved in an accident near Adrian, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 March 2014 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Adrian, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Coleman Cattle Ranch (PVT)

Coordinates

35.4019, -102.8083

Aircraft

Aeronca 7AC

Registration

N85372

Category

Airplane

Year built

1946

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dalhart → Clovis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14CA157

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll which resulted in the airplane ground looping.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported he planned on making a wheel landing at a higher than normal airspeed due to the anticipated strong surface wind. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, after the tailwheel settled to the ground, he noticed that the wind velocity was less than he anticipated and that his ground speed was "pretty fast." According to the pilot, due to the increased groundspeed, the wings were still producing some lift and although the gear remained on the runway, the full weight of the airplane was not on the landing gear. The pilot stated the airplane swerved to the right and he was able to regain directional control. The airplane then swerved to the left and the pilot was not able to regain directional control which resulted in a ground loop. The tailwheel traveled into the grass alongside the runway, and the right wing and right stabilizer contacted the ground. The pilot was able to taxi the airplane back onto the runway, however; he stated it would not taxi straight. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane prior to the accident. A postaccident examination revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.