Aeronca 7AC accident near Honea Path, South Carolina, June 3, 2011
On June 3, 2011 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N84572, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Honea Path, South Carolina (Honea Path airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's loss of control during the takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2011 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Honea Path, South Carolina · Honea Path · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N84572 · registry record · serial 7AC-3281
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that he was conducting a solo cross-country flight in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. He landed uneventfully at the destination airport, which was equipped with a turf runway, and to which he had flown with his instructor the previous day. After landing, the student pilot taxied the airplane back to the end of the runway to take off. He stated that he applied power to begin the takeoff roll, and the airplane lifted off the ground around 50 miles per hour. The student pilot lowered the airplane's nose to gain airspeed, and the airplane contacted the runway before impacting trees on the right side of the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the wing spar, and no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies were noted.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 59 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A&C65 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Blue Ridge Sport Flight LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 0A7 Hendersonville NC at 12:15 pm
- Destination: NA Honea Path SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from AND, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.