Aeronca 7AC accident near Carbondale, Pennsylvania, June 18, 2011
On June 18, 2011 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N3068E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Carbondale, Pennsylvania (Malinchak Private Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was that the pilot did not attain the proper landing point.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2011 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Carbondale, Pennsylvania · Malinchak Private Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N3068E · registry record · serial 7AC-6657
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane floated before landing about halfway down the turf runway. The airplane bounced three times and the pilot briefly added power in an attempt to abort the landing and go around. He then realized that the airplane would not be able to clear the trees that were located at the end of the runway. He reduced the power but was unable to stop the airplane, and it overran the runway. The airplane hit a ditch and collided with a structure, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing spar and fuselage. The pilot reported 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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Landing area overshoot during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not specified
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 15, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,166 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 2011; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: B J Air
The flight
- Departed from: N30 Honesdale PA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 9PN8 Carbondale PA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from AVP, 19 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.