Aeronca 7AC accident near Finleyville, Pennsylvania, August 17, 2009
On August 17, 2009 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N83661, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Finleyville, Pennsylvania (Finleyville Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2009 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Finleyville, Pennsylvania · Finleyville Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N83661 · no longer on the register · serial 7AC-2339
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a 2,505-foot-long by 50-foot-wide asphalt runway. The pilot reported that he performed a "normal" landing at a speed of approximately 60 miles per hour (mph); however, the airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway at a ground speed of 35 to 40 mph. The airplane struck a hangar located approximately 200 feet from the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The inspector also noted that there were no skid marks or evidence of braking from the runway to the point of impact at the hangar. Calm winds were reported 8 nautical miles northeast of the airport.
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 landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,361 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 2,173 as pilot in command; 1,442 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 14, 2009
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,205 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 2009; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A&C65 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: G05 Finleyville PA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: G05 Finleyville PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,505 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from AGC, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.