NTSB CAROL · Event
Event WPR25LA168
Registry · N85311
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
AERONCA 7BCM
Year of manufacture
1946 · 79 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR C85-12 (85 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20171003
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ABB512
Registrant of record
MCCARTNEY JAMES P
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action and inadequate compensation for shifting wind conditions which resulted in a veer off the runway and collision with a sign.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor stated that they had completed two landings and had configured the airplane for a third full-stop landing. With the student pilot manipulating the controls, the airplane touched down on the centerline in a three-point landing attitude. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane began veering to the left and the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane. Despite her attempts, the airplane continued off the runway surface and the left landing gear collided with a sign. As a result of the collision, the left wing strut was damaged. The flight instructor noted that the wind was reported as light and variable. During the accident landing, the wind had shifted to a 180° tailwind of approximately 10 knots, initiating the left veer off the runway. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot
- — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Sudden wind shift-Ability to respond/compensate
- — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Instructor/check pilot
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2025_WPR25LA168.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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