# NTSB MIA04LA096: Aeronca 11AC, N85970, Williston, FL, June 13, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 13, 2004, 19:05 local (23:05 UTC) - Place: Williston, FL - Coordinates: 29.354166, -82.472778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3542&lon=-82.4728&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59464 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59464/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA096 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - low altitude flight/maneuver - attempted, pilot in command - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N85970-2023-02-04), registration cancelled 2023-02-04, S/N 11AC-393, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 11AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac) (registry code 0191102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: serious; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040613017709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040613017709A), Jun 13, 2004: Bbavia 11AC, Morriston, FL, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft crashed while doing touch and go landing on buzz's airstrip runway 18, aircraft appeared to be on a tight base leg to final approach turn. The… 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.