Aeronca 11CC accident near Silver City, New Mexico, August 11, 2010
On August 11, 2010 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Aeronca 11CC, registered N4546E, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Silver City, New Mexico (Grant County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff and the certificated flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2010 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Silver City, New Mexico · Grant County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11CC · all 11CCs on the register
- Registration
- N4546E · no longer on the register · serial 11CC-249
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot started the takeoff roll and the airplane ground-looped prior to liftoff. The certificated flight instructor unsuccessfully attempted to regain control; however, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. The right wing main spar and several ribs were bent as a result of the accident sequence.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Ground collision during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 3,600 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 20, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 677 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 677 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 8, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,584 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 6, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SVC Silver City NM at 5:45 pm
- Destination: SVC Silver City NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 6,802 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from SVC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.