Aeronca O58B accident near Jonestown, Pennsylvania, November 18, 2021
On November 18, 2021 at about 12:30 pm local time, a 1943 Aeronca O58B, registered N47523, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Jonestown, Pennsylvania (Dee Jay airport). It was a personal 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 incorrect glide path and landing flare, which resulted in a collision with obstacles on final approach and a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 2021 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jonestown, Pennsylvania · Dee Jay · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca O58B NO SERIES, built 1943
- Registration
- N47523 · registry record · serial 058B-10753
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while on short final he slowed the airplane down and “flared too soon over the runway which caused a hard landing.” Subsequently, the main landing gear collapsed on the grass runway and the airplane skidded to a stop upright. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. Photographs of the accident site revealed that a small bird house attached to a metal pole was struck by the tail of the airplane. The pole was about 5 ft tall co-located with a white fence and was located about 35-40 ft prior to a yellow tire that marked the location of the grass runway’s threshold. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Incorrect use/operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Pole › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 609 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 609 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 14, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,519 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 1,474 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9N7 Fredericksburg PA at 4:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09/2, 1,800 ft by 125 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from MUI, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMUI 181656Z 20003KT 10SM FEW070 FEW250 14/10 A2998 RMK AO2A SLP157 T01400100=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 20, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.