# NTSB CHI81DEM28: Aeronca 11AC, N39578, Elwell, MI, July 17, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 17, 1981
- Place: Elwell, MI · ELWELL, MI
- Location: 43.3875° N, 84.7458° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elwell, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3875&lon=-84.7458&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124909
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81DEM28
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81DEM28

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1517  81/7/17    ELWELL,MI           AERONCA 11AC        CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 2030                    N39578              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 35, 2770 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            21 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ELWELL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ELWELL,MI                   CRYSTAL,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
           COLLIDED WITH: CROP                                      TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           DUAL STUDENT - FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SUNGLARE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39578](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39578-2012-11-14), registration cancelled 2012-11-14, S/N C18522, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 11AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 65-CA](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-65-ca) (registry code 0190922) (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
- Airport: Elwell

## 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 19810717042319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810717042319A), Jul 17, 1981: Bbavia 11AC, Elwell, MI, Substantial damage. Flight instructor allowed student too veer off runway during takeoff. Aircraft hit corn which caused crash.

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.

---
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.