Aeronca 11AC accident near Glendale, Arizona, May 12, 2007
On May 12, 2007 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Aeronca 11AC, registered N85835, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glendale, Arizona (Glendale Municipal Airport). It was an instructional 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 private pilot's unstabilized approach and failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop. Also causal was the instructor's inadequate supervision and failure to take remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2007 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Glendale, Arizona · Glendale Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11AC · all 11ACs on the register
- Registration
- N85835 · registry record · serial 11AC242
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane ground looped while on the landing roll during an instructional flight. The private pilot said that he was receiving instruction from the certificated flight instructor (CFI) because he had very little experience with conventional landing gear equipped airplanes like the accident aircraft. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot saw another aircraft on a straight in approach. In order to give the other airplane enough clearance, he began a series of "S" turns, which resulted in an unstabilized approach. He noted that on short final the airplane was too high and at an airspeed twice as fast as normal. The airplane touched down and began a slow right turn. The airplane continued the turn and veered of the runway surface, colliding with a runway direction sign and taxiway light. The private pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 346 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8ATC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GEU Glendale AZ
- Destination: GEU Glendale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 7,150 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.