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WPR25LA168

2025-06-02 · Port Townsend, Washington, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 0S9

Current FAA registration · N85311

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

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

FAA avdata. C = Cause, 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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