Aeronca 11AC accident near Tacoma, Washington, June 4, 2014
On June 4, 2014 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1946 Aeronca 11AC, registered N9791E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Tacoma, Washington (Takoma Narrows 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 student pilot's improper application of rudder resulted in a loss of control during the landing roll and the flight instructor's inadequate oversight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 2014 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tacoma, Washington · Takoma Narrows · 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
- N9791E · registry record · serial 11AC-1438
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that the student was practicing stop-and-go landings in the tail-wheel equipped airplane. The student had just completed two takeoffs, and the roll outs on landing were satisfactory with a little help from the flight instructor. On the third landing, the airplane was about halfway through the roll out to stop when the student suddenly pushed on the right rudder. The flight instructor immediately applied left rudder and brake, called for an addition of power, reached for the throttle, and pushed on it. The airplane straightened out, but was in the grass beside the runway. The airplane became airborne, and subsequently collided with a runway light in its path. After the airplane hit the runway light, the flight instructor flew over the runway, landed, and taxied back to the hangar. The bottom of the airframe sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Rudder control system › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: sport pilot; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,713 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 4,651 as pilot in command; 781 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 4, 2013
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 12 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,429 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gig Harbor Light Sport Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: TIW Tacoma WA at 5:25 pm
- Destination: TIW Tacoma WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,002 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KTIW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N9791E 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.