Aeronca C-3 accident near Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, June 12, 2005
On June 12, 2005 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Aeronca C-3, registered N13002, was substantially damaged in an accident near Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania (New Garden Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the crankshaft, which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent collision with wires. A factor was the wires.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2005 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania · New Garden Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca C-3 · all C-3s on the register
- Registration
- N13002 · registry record · serial A217
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the downwind leg of the closed traffic pattern flight, the crankshaft of the 1930's vintage aircraft engine failed aft of the propeller flange. As the propeller continued to rotate independent of the engine, the pilot attempted to return to the airport; however, the tailwheel struck wires, and the airplane impacted the ground.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aeronca E113 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N57 Toughkenamon PA
- Destination: N57
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,695 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from ILG, 13 miles away
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 IAD05LA076.