Aeronca 7AC N3063E

Summary

On 13 November 2021 at about 16:45 local time, a Aeronca 7AC registered N3063E was involved in an accident near Denver, North Carolina, 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

13 November 2021 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Denver, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Little Mountain (6NC1)

Coordinates

35.5916, -81.0805

Aircraft

Aeronca 7AC

Registration

N3063E

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

York → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA063

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a gusting crosswind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, a “strong down draft,” which was wind turbulence from a tree line, resulted in a “hard” landing. Then, during the landing roll, another gust of wind lifted the right wing, the left wing struck the ground, and the airplane began to ground loop. The pilot attempted to correct with aileron, rudder, and brake; however, the airplane impacted trees and shrubs about 25 ft from the runway. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 21, with wind from 300° at 5 knots gusting to 14 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.