Aeronca 11AC accident near Randolph, New York, July 20, 2010
On July 20, 2010 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Aeronca 11AC, registered N9120E, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Randolph, New York (Campbell Field 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 certified flight instructor's delayed response to the student pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a building.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2010 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Randolph, New York · Campbell Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11AC · all 11ACs on the register
- Registration
- N9120E · no longer on the register · serial 11AC-754
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot was receiving instruction in a tailwheel equipped airplane. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to veer to the right, exited the runway, and impacted the corner of a building, resulting in substantial damage to the forward and aft spars of the left wing. The CFI reported that during the takeoff roll, the student pilot was pushing heavily on the right brake. According to the student pilot, about 300 feet into the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the right a few degrees and the CFI took authority of the airplane's controls. The airplane continued to veer to the right and prior to impacting the building, the student pilot retarded the throttle. Both pilots reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Student pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 27,500 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 17,500 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 1, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,022 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 2010; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A&C65 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 85NK Randolph NY at 1:30 pm
- Destination: N56 Great Valley NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,495 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from JHW, 20 miles away
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.