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GAA17CA288

2017-05-15 · Lebanon, Oregon, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport S30

Current FAA registration · N3046E

Make / Model
AERONCA 7AC
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A3315D

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting wind conditions.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll in a crosswind, the airplane "started weathervaneing me[him] with some sideways sliding". He added that he decided to go-ground, but about two feet above the ground, "knowing I [he] couldn't climb fast enough to clear the top of the hangers on the east side of the runway, I [he] pulled power back". The airplane touched down again, exited the left side of the runway crossed a ditch, and came to rest on the taxi way. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the wind as wind as variable at 10-15 knots and wind gusts at 15 knots. The pilot landed on runway 34. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll in a crosswind, the airplane "started weathervaning…with some sideways sliding." He added that he decided to go around, but about 2 ft above the ground, "knowing I [he] couldn't climb fast enough to clear the top of the…[hangars] on the east side of the runway, I [he] pulled power back." The airplane touched down again, exited the left side of the runway, crossed a ditch, and came to rest on the taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the wind as variable, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot landed on runway 34. 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-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA288.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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