Aeronca 65-C accident near Ozark, Arkansas, May 17, 1998
On May 17, 1998 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 65-C, registered N23548, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ozark, Arkansas (Franklin County Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1998 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ozark, Arkansas · Franklin County Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 65-C · all 65-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N23548 · registry record · serial C-5039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot, endorsed for solo flight in the aircraft, reported that during landing the airplane nosed over to the inverted position. A witness observed the aircraft land in the center of the runway with the tailwheel approximately one foot off the runway surface. As the aircraft's speed slowed, the tail became more elevated and the aircraft flipped over and landed on its back. The wind was calm. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the wheels spun freely and the brakes functioned normally. The student had 33.3 hours (24.8 solo) in make and model.
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: student
- Flight time: 36 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 25 as pilot in command; 12 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,213 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 1997; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H34 Huntsville AR at 10:15 pm
- Destination: 7MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 3,302 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.