Aeronca 65-TAC accident near Clearwater, Florida, August 26, 2024
On August 26, 2024 at about 12:15 pm local time, a 1944 Aeronca 65-TAC, registered N39565, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clearwater, Florida (Clearwater Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the outcome, was the pilot’s inability to control the engine following the loss of directional control due to the separation of a knob from the engine’s throttle control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2024 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Clearwater, Florida · Clearwater Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 65-TAC, built 1944 · all 65-TACs on the register
- Registration
- N39565 · registry record · serial C5674TA
- 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 after completing a pre-takeoff check of the tailwheel-equipped airplane he taxied onto the runway for takeoff. Upon entering the runway and aligning the airplane to the centerline, the pilot increased the engine power to full for takeoff. Shortly after the airplane began to roll, it started to veer to the left. The pilot applied right rudder, but the airplane continued to veer to the left. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway onto the adjacent grass and struck an airport perimeter fence, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane’s flight controls that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, following the accident, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and found no evidence of any anomalies with the airplane’s aerodynamic flight controls and trim. The inspector also found that a wooden knob that had been attached to the forward seat’s throttle control was lying on the floor of the airplane, but not obstructing the movement of any of the flight controls. The pilot stated that the knob, which did not appear to be an original component to the airplane, had come off just before the airplane had departed the runway surface. He further stated that this precluded him from reducing engine power and stopping the airplane before it struck the airport perimeter fence.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA24LA363.