# Accident 20240826012329A: Aeronca 65-TAC, Clearwater, FL, August 26, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 26, 2024, 08:16 local time
- Place: Clearwater, FL
- Airport: Clearwater Air Park
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.9772° N, 82.7591° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9772&lon=-82.7591&mi=10
- Aircraft: N39565, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N39565) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca 65-TAC (registry code 0190910, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-65-tac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 65-TAC
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 259 total, 1 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA363](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA363) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240826012329A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA24LA363](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA363), Aug 26, 2024: Aeronca 65-TAC (N39565), Clearwater, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.