# NTSB FTW96LA173: Aeronca 65-TAF, N36953, Roanoke, TX, April 9, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 9, 1996, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Roanoke, TX
- Coordinates: 33.000652, -97.22924 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0007&lon=-97.2292&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19807
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA173
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19807/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA173

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence
  - object - wall/barricade

## Analysis

During landing, the aircraft touched down on all three landing gear and bounced.  Subsequently, the aircraft landed and ground looped separating the left main landing gear.  The aircraft departed the right side of the runway, struck a fence and a retaining wall, and came to a stop up right.  Both wing spars incurred damage.

## Factual narrative

On April 9, 1996, about 1145 central daylight time, an Aeronca 65-TAF, N36953, registered to and operated by a private owner as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight, was substantially damaged during landing at Northwest Regional Airport, Roanoke, Texas.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the personal flight.  The private pilot was not injured.  The flight originated from Bridgeport, Texas, about 35 minutes prior to the accident.

The pilot reported to the FAA inspector and in the Pilot/Operator Report that while landing on runway 17, the aircraft touched down on all three landing gear and bounced.  Subsequently, the aircraft landed and "ground looped" separating the left main landing gear.  The aircraft departed the right side of the runway and the right wing struck a fence.  As the aircraft "spun," the left wing struck a retaining wall, and the airplane then came to a stop up right, heading north. The right main landing gear had collapsed, and there was damage to both the left and right wing spars.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N36953 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Aeronca 65-TAF
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: F2611TA
- Airframe hours: 4388
- Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Terry Cross
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1996, 5 hours before
- Departed: 1F9, BRIDGEPORT, TX
- Destination: 52F
- Airport: 52F, Northwest Regional, runway 17, 3,500 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 420 total, 27 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AFW, 7 nm away

## 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 19960409007919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960409007919A), Apr 9, 1996: Aronca 65TAF, Roanoke, TX, Substantial damage. Ballooned landing. Came back down hard. Lost control. Exited runway and struck a fence and retaining wall. (-23) on 04/09/96 at 11:45 a.m. CST, Aeronca 65-TAF,…

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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