Aeronca 11AC accident near Pence Springs, West Virginia, June 23, 2023
On June 23, 2023 at about 1:50 pm local time, a 1946 Aeronca 11AC, registered N9543E, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Pence Springs, West Virginia (Hinton-Alderson 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
A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2023 · about 1:50 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Pence Springs, West Virginia · Hinton-Alderson Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11AC, built 1946 · all 11ACs on the register
- Registration
- N9543E · registry record · serial 11AC-1179
- 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 he reduced power while leveling off in the airport traffic pattern, at an altitude of 1,000 feet above ground level, then subsequently felt as though the airplane was sinking. He noticed that the engine rpm was at 1,500 and there was no forward thrust. He attempted to troubleshoot, applied carburetor heat, and lowered the nose to maintain glide speed, but was unable to restore engine power before the airplane descended into trees, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal engine operation, with the exception that the carburetor heat tubing was not completely attached to the carburetor intake box. It did not display evidence of impact damage. The disconnected tubing would likely have resulted in a reduced quantity of heated air reaching the carburetor and would have reduced the system’s effectiveness. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide engine power settings. Based on the available information, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of carburetor ice accumulation. While the pilot reported that he did not utilize carburetor heat until after he thought the engine had lost power, which would have substantially reduced the likelihood that it could have eliminated any accumulated icing in the carburetor, given the findings that the system may not have been operating properly when the engine lost power, even timely activation may not have impacted the outcome.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Fuel related during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Ice/rain protection system › Intake anti › ice, deice › Damaged/degraded other cases naming the heating, ice protection and utility systems
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,584 hours in all; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2,440 as pilot in command; 125 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,816 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2023; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental (piston); 1,816 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,700 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 am from LWB, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLWB 231350Z 00000KT 10SM OVC008 18/16 A3002
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on June 26, 2024. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Pilot Interview | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Passenger Interview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Asi Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Carb Icing Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9543E on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Aeronca 11 Chief 741 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Aeronca 3,953 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental · as the NTSB recorded it
- Hinton-Alderson Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in West Virginia 424 since 1982 · 54 in the last ten years
- West Virginia 886 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA23LA275.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.