Aeronca 65 CA accident near Thomaston, Georgia, September 30, 2013
On September 30, 2013 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 1941 Aeronca 65 CA, registered N33879, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Thomaston, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning and in-flight monitoring of the fuel level which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 2013 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Thomaston, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 65 CA NO SERIES, built 1941 · all 65 CAs on the register
- Registration
- N33879 · no longer on the register · serial C14181
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane was fueled the day prior to the accident and flown 246 miles. Prior to the accident flight, which was 213 miles, the pilot added approximately 2 gallons of fuel to the main fuel tanks, which provided about 13 total gallons of fuel on board for the flight. While enroute to the intended destination the pilot made an unexpected landing to accommodate the needs of a passenger and was on the ground for about 8 minutes. The remaining portion of the flight was uneventful until approximately 12 miles from the destination airport when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to land on a nearby road; however, the airplane impacted tree tops and came to rest in a nose down attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. According to a report from the Sheriff's Department, the passenger stated "they ran out of fuel." Postaccident examination revealed about one quart of fuel remained in the fuel system and there was no evidence of mechanical malfunction or any other abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 31,500 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 20,000 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 30, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A&C65 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GA14 Albany GA
- Destination: OPN Thomaston GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from KOPN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.