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GAA17CA113

2017-01-15 · Compton, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport CPM

Current FAA registration · N1659E

Make / Model
AERONCA 7AC
Year of manufacture
1946 · 71 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19560426
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A107D9

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain runway alignment during landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in an off-runway landing in soft dirt and a nose-over.

Factual narrative

The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during short final approach in gusting wind conditions, the airplane drifted left. He further reported that the airplane landed to the left of the runway in soft dirt and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift struts. The pilot reported that about 10 minutes prior to the accident the wind was reported as light and variable at the airport. The airplane was landing on runway 7R. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during short final approach in gusting wind conditions, the airplane drifted left. The airplane landed left of the runway in soft dirt and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift struts. The pilot reported that, about 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was reported as light and variable at the airport. The airplane was landing on runway 7R. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Lateral/bank control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-Soft surface-Contributed to outcome
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Response/compensation
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Response/compensation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA113.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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