Aeronca 65-TAC N39565

Summary

On 26 August 2024 at about 12:15 local time, a Aeronca 65-TAC registered N39565 was involved in an accident near Clearwater, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 August 2024 at 12:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Clearwater, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Clearwater Air Park (CLW)

Coordinates

27.9772, -82.7591

Aircraft

Aeronca 65-TAC

Registration

N39565

Category

Airplane

Year built

1944

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Dunnellon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24LA363

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the outcome, was the pilot’s inability to control the engine following the loss of directional control due to the separation of a knob from the engine’s throttle control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after completing a pre-takeoff check of the tailwheel-equipped airplane he taxied onto the runway for takeoff. Upon entering the runway and aligning the airplane to the centerline, the pilot increased the engine power to full for takeoff. Shortly after the airplane began to roll, it started to veer to the left. The pilot applied right rudder, but the airplane continued to veer to the left. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway onto the adjacent grass and struck an airport perimeter fence, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane’s flight controls that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, following the accident, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and found no evidence of any anomalies with the airplane’s aerodynamic flight controls and trim. The inspector also found that a wooden knob that had been attached to the forward seat’s throttle control was lying on the floor of the airplane, but not obstructing the movement of any of the flight controls. The pilot stated that the knob, which did not appear to be an original component to the airplane, had come off just before the airplane had departed the runway surface. He further stated that this precluded him from reducing engine power and stopping the airplane before it struck the airport perimeter fence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.