Aeronca 7AC accident near Clearwater, Florida, March 20, 2012
On March 20, 2012 at about 1:10 pm local time, a Aeronca 7AC, registered N82406, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Clearwater, Florida (Clearwater Air Park 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 pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2012 · about 1:10 pm local time
- Place
- Clearwater, Florida · Clearwater Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N82406 · registry record · serial 7AC-1040
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot said that he was receiving flight instruction in the tailwheel-equipped airplane and that as he lifted the tailwheel off runway for takeoff, the airplane encountered a wind gust and veered to the left. The pilot said that he had "little to no" control of the airplane. The flight instructor then assumed control of the airplane; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck a fence. The airplane's main landing gear separated and the airframe was substantially damaged. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot receiving instruction reported 1,530 hours of total flight experience, which included 2 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
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 takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 3,240 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 10, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,530 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 4, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,958 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 2011; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor AC65 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: 7Ac Club INC
The flight
- Departed from: CLW Clearwater FL at 1:10 pm
- Destination: CLW Clearwater FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from PIE, 5 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.