Aeronca 15AC accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, July 13, 2013
On July 13, 2013 at about 6:00 am local time, a 1949 Aeronca 15AC, registered N1374H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Talkeetna, Alaska (Talkeetna Village Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of airplane control during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2013 · about 6:00 am local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · Talkeetna Village Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 15AC, built 1949 · all 15ACs on the register
- Registration
- N1374H · no longer on the register · serial 15AC-423
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing, the tailwheel-equipped airplane ground looped and struck trees off the left side of the runway. The pilot reported that the airplane's right brake was "ineffective" during the landing; however, the airplane was partially disassembled and placed into storage before a detailed postaccident examination of the brake assembly could be performed. Therefore, it could not be determined if a brake anomaly occurred. The pilot stated that the flight was to be the airplane's last flight before being placed in permanent storage and that the airplane had not received an annual inspection for several years. A brake inspection is a routine part of an annual inspection; therefore, it is possible that, if the airplane had received an annual inspection and a brake anomaly did exist, it could have been detected and corrected before the accident flight.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Not specified
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › (general) › Not inspected
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,900 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 6,900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,485 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C145 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UMM Summit AK
- Destination: AK44 Talkeetna AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 1,600 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC13LA065.