- Date
- August 24, 2012, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place
- Comfort, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9771EAeronca 11AC
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 5, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20120824018869A
- Case key
- 84900
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane after takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
After takeoff to the south, at an altitude of 250 feet above the ground, the pilot initiated a left turn. During the turn, the left wing dropped "60 to 70 degrees." The pilot stated that he tried to regain control; however, the airplane struck a fence before he could level the airplane. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the firewall, the empennage, and the outboard portion of the right wing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
After takeoff to the south, at an altitude of 250 feet above the ground, the pilot initiated a left turn to the crosswind. During the turn the left wing dropped "60 to 70 degrees". The pilot stated that he started to recover; however, the airplane struck a fence before he could level the airplane. The engine cowling and firewall were crushed and wrinkled, the empennage separated, and the outboard portion of the right wing was broken and torn. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9771E
- Reported as
- Aeronca 11AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 11AC-1416
- Airframe hours
- 1,673
- Engine
- Continental A65-8F, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 5, 2012
- Departed
- 17TE · Comfort, TX
- Destination
- 17TE · Comfort, TX
- Airport
- 17TE · Comfort Airpark
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 79
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 584 total · 0 in this make and model · 541 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- KERV, 8 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 21, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.