- Date
- May 17, 1998, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Ozark, AR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N23548Aeronca 65-C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 21, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980517009609A
- Case key
- 20614
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 aircraft control.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The student pilot, endorsed for solo flight in the aircraft, reported that during landing the airplane nosed over to the inverted position. A witness observed the aircraft land in the center of the runway with the tailwheel approximately one foot off the runway surface. As the aircraft's speed slowed, the tail became more elevated and the aircraft flipped over and landed on its back. The wind was calm. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the wheels spun freely and the brakes functioned normally. The student had 33.3 hours (24.8 solo) in make and model.
Factual narrative
On May 17, 1998, at 1800 central daylight time, an Aeronca 65-C airplane, N23548, owned and operated by a private individual under Title 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage during a loss of control while landing near Ozark, Arkansas. The solo student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross country solo instructional flight that departed Huntsville, Arkansas, at 1715. A flight plan was not filed.
The student pilot, endorsed for solo flight in the aircraft, had flown 33.3 hours (24.8 solo) in this aircraft. The student pilot reported that during the wheel landing, the airplane nosed over to the inverted position.
The FAA inspector, examining the airplane, found structural damage to the wing and spars. The cabin area exhibited buckling.
The owner/witness reported that the aircraft landed in the center of the runway with the tailwheel approximately one foot off the runway surface. As the aircraft's speed slowed, the tail became more elevated and the aircraft flipped over and landed on its back. At the time of the accident the wind was calm. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the wheels spun freely and the brakes functioned normally. The right wing was twisted and several ribs on the left wing were damaged. Fabric damage occurred to the right wing and the vertical stabilizer. The propeller, engine, and carburetor were damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N23548
- Reported as
- Aeronca 65-C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- C-5039
- Airframe hours
- 2,213
- Engine
- Continental A-65-3, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John E. Lachowsky
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 9, 1997 · 69 hours before
- Departed
- H34 · Huntsville, AR
- Destination
- 7MS
- Airport
- 7MS · Franklin County Municipal, runway 4, 3,302 × 60 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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 16
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 36 total · 33 in this make and model · 25 as pilot in command · 32 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FSM, 244 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.