MIA04LA096

NTSB accident investigation · Aeronca 11AC · Williston, FL · June 13, 2004

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 13, 2004, 19:05 local (23:05 UTC)
Place
Williston, FL
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N85970Aeronca 11AC
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 20, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20040613017709A
Case key
59464

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed (Vso) while maneuvering, which resulted in a stall/mush, an uncontrolled descent, and impact with terrain.

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.

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering
Low altitude flight/maneuver - attemptedPilot in command
Airspeed(vso) - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall/mush - inadvertentPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

A witness who was feeding horses at the time, stated that he saw the airplane performing touch-and-go landings to an open field. He said that the airplane touched down and that he saw the airplane takeoff again, and he observed it turning sharply after takeoff, while still at a low altitude. He said he then saw the nose lower, and the airplane descend out of sight, and then he heard the sound of an impact. The witness further stated that throughout the flight the engine sounded as if it was operating normally. In addition to the first witness, another witness said he observed the airplane touching down and taking off, and further observed it in a turn before hearing it impact the ground. After hospitalization as a result of his injuries the pilot provided a report to the NTSB stating that he could not remember anything about the accident. Examination of FAA records revealed that the pilot's last medical examination had been on February 1, 2000. On August 20, 2004, an FAA inspector examined the accident airplane, and no anomalies were found with the airframe, flight controls, or the engine and accessories.

Factual narrative

On June 13, 2004, about 1905 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 1AC, N85970, registered to and operated by a private individual as a title 14 CFR part 91 personal flight crashed on a peanut farm near Williston, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot received serious injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to a law enforcement officer with the Levy County Sheriff's Office, a witness who was feeding horses at the time, stated that he saw the airplane performing touch-and-go landings to an open field. After touching down, the witness said that he saw the airplane take off again, and he observed it turning sharply after takeoff, while still at a low altitude. He said he then saw the nose lower, and the airplane descend out of sight, and then he heard the sound of an impact. The witness further stated that throughout the flight the engine sounded as if it was operating normally. In addition to the first witness, another witness said he observed the airplane touching down and taking off, and further observed it in a turn before hearing it impact the ground.

According to a Levy County Sheriff's Deputy, the pilot had received serious injuries and had been evacuated to the hospital. On September 28, 2004, the pilot provided a report to the NTSB, and specified that after the accident, he awakened 3 days later in the hospital, and could not remember anything about the accident. Examination of FAA records revealed that the pilot's last medical examination had been on February 1, 2000.

On August 20, 2004, an FAA inspector examined the accident airplane, and no anomalies were found with the airframe, flight controls or the engine and accessories.

Aircraft

Registration
N85970
Reported as
Aeronca 11AC
Category
Airplane
Engine
Continental A-65, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Michael Douglas O'Connor
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Departed
Williston, FL

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
42
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Seat
Left

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
100° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
6,000 ft broken
Temperature
90 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter
29.98 inHg
Observed at
GNV

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.