- Date
- March 20, 2012, 09:10 local (13:10 UTC)
- Place
- Clearwater, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N82406Aeronca 7AC
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 15, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120320004169A
- Case key
- 83195
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's failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Findings · 3
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
The commercial pilot said that he was receiving flight instruction in the tailwheel-equipped airplane and that as he lifted the tailwheel off runway for takeoff, the airplane encountered a wind gust and veered to the left. The pilot said that he had "little to no" control of the airplane. The flight instructor then assumed control of the airplane; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck a fence. The airplane's main landing gear separated and the airframe was substantially damaged. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot receiving instruction reported 1,530 hours of total flight experience, which included 2 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Factual narrative
The commercial pilot was receiving instruction in the tailwheel equipped airplane, from a certified flight instructor (CFI), and began the takeoff roll from runway 16, without incident. The commercial pilot stated that as he lifted the tailwheel off the runway, the airplane encountered a wind gust, veered to the left, and that he had "little to no" control of the airplane. The CFI assumed control of the airplane; however, it subsequently departed the left side of the runway and struck a fence. The airplane's main landing gear separated and the airframe was substantially damaged. Both pilots reported that they did not experience any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The commercial pilot reported 1,530 hours of total flight experience, which included 2 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. Winds reported an airport located about 5 miles southeast of the accident site, around the time of the accident, were from 120 degrees at 9 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N82406
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7AC-1040
- Airframe hours
- 4,958
- Engine
- Cont Motor AC65 SERIES, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- 7ac Club Inc
- Registered owner
- 7ac Club Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 7, 2011 · 61 hours before
- Departed
- CLW · Clearwater, FL
- Destination
- CLW · Clearwater, FL
- Airport
- CLW · Clearwater Air Park, runway 16, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 71
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 10, 2012
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 9,000 total · 300 in this make and model · 8 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 87
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 4, 2010
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 1,530 total · 2 in this make and model · 15 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- PIE, 5 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.2 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.