# NTSB CHI80FET20: Aeronca 65C, N23547, Ft.Wayne, IN, July 15, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 15, 1980
- Place: Ft.Wayne, IN · FT.WAYNE, IN
- Location: 41.1306° N, 85.1289° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Wayne, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1306&lon=-85.1289&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 20, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129758
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI80FET20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FET20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1055  80/7/15    FT.WAYNE,IN         AERONCA 65C         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1941                    N23547              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 37, 990 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            891 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NEW HAVEN,IN                FT.WAYNE,IN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: DIRT BANK                                 LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           POWERPLANT - EXHAUST SYSTEM: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER/INADEQUATE VENTING
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPERLY SERVICED AIRCRAFT (OWNER-PILOT)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL GRADE-IMPROPER
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH TEMPERATURE
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      97
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          260                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- AIR INTAKE FOR HEAT MUFF ASSY TAPED OVER.MAIN FUEL LINE LOCATED ADJ HEAT MUFF-VAPOR LOCK.AUTO FUEL
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23547](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23547-2012-08-10), registration cancelled 2012-08-10, S/N C5119, built 1939 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 65C
- Registry model: [Aeronca 65-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-65-c) (registry code 0190920) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19800715025129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800715025129A), Jul 15, 1980: Wagner 65C, Ft Wayne, IN, Substantial damage. Engine quit. Overshot chosen landing area. Used auto fuel, taped off heater air inlet, causing vapor lock.

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.

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