N4070E

On September 9, 2001, about 0930 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 11AC, N4070E, registered to E-Z Flying Club of Wilmington, Delaware, landed hard and collapsed the left main landing gear during a landing at Charlotte County Airport in Punta Gorda, Florida. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight had initially departed Charlotte County Airport, in Punta Gorda, Florida, at 0900.

The pilot had been conducting touch-and-go landings on runway 15 at the airport. On the fifth landing, the pilot stated everything seemed normal, but, upon touchdown, the airplane "suddenly lurched over" to the left and skidded off to the left side of the runway.

Examination of the airplane found the left main landing gear separated, and the left wing tip was bent. The propeller blades were bent, and stringers in the lower fuselage also sustained damage. The pilot's seat pan was found collapsed. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure.