Aeronca 7CCM N2053E accident near Rochester, New Hampshire

Probable cause

The out-of-rig condition of the tailwheel lock, which resulted in a loss of directional control on landing.

NTSB analysis

During the first three landings, with the student pilot at the controls, the airplane veered to the left upon touchdown. On the fourth landing, the airplane veered left again, and then the tailwheel momentarily lifted off the runway. When the tailwheel came back down, the airplane pulled hard to the left, but the flight instructor regained some directional control. The airplane departed the runway surface and struck the surface-mounted precision approach path indicator, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. A postaccident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the tailwheel unlocked easily when shaken manually.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA11LA084 for the full record.