Aeronca 7BCM N85311

Summary

On 2 June 2025 at about 18:30 local time, a Aeronca 7BCM registered N85311 was involved in an accident near Port Townsend, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 June 2025 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Port Townsend, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Jefferson County Intl (0S9)

Coordinates

48.0538, -122.8094

Aircraft

Aeronca 7BCM

Registration

N85311

Category

Airplane

Year built

1946

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Port Townsend → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR25LA168

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action and inadequate compensation for shifting wind conditions which resulted in a veer off the runway and collision with a sign.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor stated that they had completed two landings and had configured the airplane for a third full-stop landing. With the student pilot manipulating the controls, the airplane touched down on the centerline in a three-point landing attitude. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane began veering to the left and the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane. Despite her attempts, the airplane continued off the runway surface and the left landing gear collided with a sign. As a result of the collision, the left wing strut was damaged. The flight instructor noted that the wind was reported as light and variable. During the accident landing, the wind had shifted to a 180° tailwind of approximately 10 knots, initiating the left veer off the runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.