What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 26, 2024 at approximately 08:16 local time, the accident aircraft a 1944 Aeronca 65-TAC defender sn: privacy data omitted experienced a loss of control during takeoff from runway 16 at Clearwater airpark (kclw) Clearwater, Florida. The aircraft came to rest east of runway 16 at approximately 600 feet from the hold short line. The aircraft made contact with the airport perimeter fence and sustained substantial damage to the right wing leading edge and spar, left wing leading edge and main landing gear (collapsed). The propeller exhibited damage consistent with engine operation at time of impact. A single tire skid mark was noted, initiating immediately forward of the rwy 16 numbers continuing into the grassy medium between the runway and taxiway and extending to the aircraft location. Onsite inspection of the aircraft did not identify any mechanical anomalies that could have prevented normal operation.
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 26, 2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 08:16 LOCAL TIME, THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT A 1944 AERONCA 65-TAC DEFENDER SN: ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 16 AT CLEARWATER AIRPARK (KCLW) CLEARWATER, FLORIDA. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST EAST OF RUNWAY 16 AT APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET FROM THE HOLD SHORT LINE. THE AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH THE AIRPORT PERIMETER FENCE AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING LEADING EDGE AND SPAR, LEFT WING LEADING EDGE AND MAIN LANDING GEAR (COLLAPSED). THE PROPELLER EXHIBITED DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH ENGINE OPERATION AT TIME OF IMPACT. A SINGLE TIRE SKID MARK WAS NOTED, INITIATING IMMEDIATELY FORWARD OF THE RWY 16 NUMBERS CONTINUING INTO THE GRASSY MEDIUM BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY AND EXTENDING TO THE AIRCRAFT LOCATION. ONSITE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY MECHANICAL ANOMALIES THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL OPERATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.