Aeronca 7AC accident near Compton, California, January 15, 2017
On January 15, 2017 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1946 Aeronca 7AC, registered N1659E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Compton, California (Compton/Woodley 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 runway alignment during landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in an off-runway landing in soft dirt and a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 2017 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Compton, California · Compton/Woodley · 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
- N1659E · registry record · serial 7AC-5225
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during short final approach in gusting wind conditions, the airplane drifted left. The airplane landed left of the runway in soft dirt and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift struts. The pilot reported that, about 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was reported as light and variable at the airport. The airplane was landing on runway 7R. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,985 hours in all; 1,913 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,957 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,340 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 (piston); 2,020 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F70 Murrieta/Temecula CA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: CPM Compton CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 07R, 3,322 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KHHR, 5 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.
Other NTSB records under N1659E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.