Aeronca 11AC accident near Warroad, Minnesota, March 25, 2017
On March 25, 2017 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1946 Aeronca 11AC, registered N9595E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Warroad, Minnesota (Warroad Intl Memorial 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 improper landing flare and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the landing in tailwind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 2017 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Warroad, Minnesota · Warroad Intl Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11AC, built 1946 · all 11ACs on the register
- Registration
- N9595E · registry record · serial 11AC-1235
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing, he flared high and bounced. The airplane touched down again, and a "gust of wind blew [him] off the runway." He attempted to recover by adding full power to go around; however, the airplane exited the runway to the left and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of current weather conditions at the accident airport revealed that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 150° at 9 knots. The airplane landed on runway 31.
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 in flight during landing defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 550 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 15, 2016
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,559 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-B (piston); 556 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RRT Warroad MN at 1:30 pm
- Destination: RRT Warroad MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from KRAD
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.