Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after landing which resulted in the inadvertent ground loop.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On September 17, 2000, about 1035 Eastern Daylight Time, an Aeronca 11AC-991, N9354E, was substantially damaged while landing at the Gettysburg Airport, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The certificated recreational pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to a pilot, he observed the accident airplane land on Runway 24, a 3,096-foot long, 40-foot wide, asphalt runway. The airplane flared "about 3-4 feet too high," and touched down hard on the right main landing gear. The airplane then immediately veered 40-50 degrees to the right and headed toward a line of parked airplanes.
The airplane struck a parked airplane, rotated on its right wing tip and came to rest on the nose cowling.
The pilot stated in a written narrative, "what occurred was a 'ground loop' after touchdown..."
The winds reported at an airport located about 18 miles to the east of the accident site, at 1053, were from 250 degrees at 9 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC00LA264