Aeronca 7AC accident near Denver, North Carolina, November 13, 2021
On November 13, 2021 at about 4:45 pm local time, a 1946 Aeronca 7AC, registered N3063E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Denver, North Carolina (Little Mountain 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 the landing roll with a gusting crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2021 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, North Carolina · Little Mountain · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC, built 1946 · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N3063E · registry record · serial 7AC-6652
- 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, during the landing flare, a “strong down draft,” which was wind turbulence from a tree line, resulted in a “hard” landing. Then, during the landing roll, another gust of wind lifted the right wing, the left wing struck the ground, and the airplane began to ground loop. The pilot attempted to correct with aileron, rudder, and brake; however, the airplane impacted trees and shrubs about 25 ft from the runway. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 21, with wind from 300° at 5 knots gusting to 14 knots.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 29,530 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 5.4 in the last 30 days; 25,342 as pilot in command; 1,650 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 2, 2019
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,517 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-6F (piston); 4,479 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 01SC York SC at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03/2, 3,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from SVH, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSVH 131655Z AUTO 30005G14KT 10SM CLR 15/01 A2992 RMK AO2 T01470013
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 30, 2021. 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 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Observations | PDF, 1 page | 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.