Aeronca 65 C N22173

Summary

On 26 June 2019 at about 14:00 local time, a Aeronca 65 C registered N22173 was involved in an accident near Gilliam, Louisiana, United States. One person was 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

26 June 2019 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Gilliam, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Gilliam (LA54)

Coordinates

32.8406, -93.8347

Aircraft

Aeronca 65 C

Registration

N22173

Category

Airplane

Year built

1939

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gilliam → Gilliam

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN19TA196

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to see and avoid a dark-colored utility pole while taxiing for takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the private pilot, he was practicing stop-and-go landings, and after the second landing, he taxied the airplane back to the east end to prepare for a third takeoff. While making a wide right turn, he was looking in the direction of the turn and failed to see an estimated 4 1/2-ft-tall utility pole. The left-wing lift strut contacted the pole and separated from the fuselage at the lower attachment point. The pilot stated that there were no markings or warnings placed nearby, which allowed the dark-colored pole to blend into the background. Following the accident, the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge contacted the airport owner who agreed to paint the pole to make it more visible to prevent a reoccurrence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.