Aeronca 65CA accident near Pulaski, Wisconsin, July 12, 2014
On July 12, 2014 at about 6:10 pm local time, a 1941 Aeronca 65CA, registered N36562, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Pulaski, Wisconsin (Carter airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's improper flight control inputs resulting in a loss of control during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2014 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Pulaski, Wisconsin · Carter · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 65CA, built 1941 · all 65CAs on the register
- Registration
- N36562 · registry record · serial CA16681
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing landings to a turf strip. On the first landing, the touchdown was normal until the student pilot applied full right rudder followed immediately with full left rudder. The flight instructor attempted to regain directional control of the airplane and attempted a go-around. The airplane entered grass to the left side of the strip and the airplanes momentum slowed. The instructor reduced the engine throttle to idle and applied the brakes. The airplane continued to roll and collided with a ground depression from a nearby motocross track. Substantial damage was sustained to the fuselage and firewall. There were no reported mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident.
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 defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Debris/dirt/foreign object › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Student/instructed pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,213 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,150 as pilot in command; 185 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 30, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 85.5 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3.7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,310 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 11, 2013; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A-75-8 (piston); 555 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 92C Pulaski WI at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 92C Pulaski WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 1,610 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KGRB, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.