Aeronca 11CC accident near Jefferson, North Carolina, June 23, 2021
On June 23, 2021 at about 9:20 pm local time, a 1947 Aeronca 11CC, registered N4134E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Jefferson, North Carolina (Ashe County airport). It was a personal 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 failure to maintain directional control upon landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2021 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Jefferson, North Carolina · Ashe County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11CC, built 1947 · all 11CCs on the register
- Registration
- N4134E · registry record · serial 11CC-42
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The tailwheel-equipped airplane was a recent purchase by the pilot owner, but he lacked both tailwheel experience and an endorsement to fly tailwheel-configured airplanes. The flight instructor who agreed to help ferry the airplane back to the owner’s home airport had considerable tailwheel experience, but none in the accident airplane make and model. On the leg prior to the accident flight, the instructor ground-looped the airplane upon landing without damaging the airplane. On the accident landing, the airplane “shot to the left” and the instructor added power for an aborted landing, but the airplane exited the runway and struck low trees and brush where it came to rest suspended upright. After the accident, the instructor explained there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and a checkout and differences training in the accident airplane prior to departure should have been part of his pre-mission planning.
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 defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,005 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,377 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 25, 2020
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-8F (piston); 1,037 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0VG Jonesville VA at 8:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10/2, 5,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 5:10 pm from KTNB, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTNB 232110Z AUTO 15007KT 110V180 10SM 21/12 A3028 RMK AO2 T02080121
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 28, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 Memo for Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Interview Summary with Owner/passenger | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.