Aeronca 65-TAC accident near Pryor, Oklahoma, May 21, 1989
On May 21, 1989 at about 8:06 pm local time, a Aeronca 65-TAC, registered N39304, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pryor, Oklahoma (Longs Airport North). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING A LOW PASS OVER THE AIRPORT AFTER PULLING UP TO CLEAR WIRES WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1989 · about 8:06 pm local time
- Place
- Pryor, Oklahoma · Longs Airport North · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 65-TAC · all 65-TACs on the register
- Registration
- N39304 · no longer on the register · serial C2761TA
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE ACFT TOOK OFF TO THE SOUTH AND TURNED TO THE NORTH MAKING A LOW PASS OVER THE AIRPORT. AS THE ACFT APPROACHED WIRES THE ACFT ENTERED A RIGHT TURN AND STARTED TO SPIN. THE ACFT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE AND FLIPPED OVER INTO 18 INCHES OF WATER.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 195 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,000 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,200 ft; not recorded at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from TUL, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.