Aeronca 11AC accident near Williston, Florida, June 13, 2004
On June 13, 2004 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Aeronca 11AC, registered N85970, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williston, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed (Vso) while maneuvering, which resulted in a stall/mush, an uncontrolled descent, and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2004 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Williston, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11AC · all 11ACs on the register
- Registration
- N85970 · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness who was feeding horses at the time, stated that he saw the airplane performing touch-and-go landings to an open field. He said that the airplane touched down and that he saw the airplane takeoff again, and he observed it turning sharply after takeoff, while still at a low altitude. He said he then saw the nose lower, and the airplane descend out of sight, and then he heard the sound of an impact. The witness further stated that throughout the flight the engine sounded as if it was operating normally. In addition to the first witness, another witness said he observed the airplane touching down and taking off, and further observed it in a turn before hearing it impact the ground. After hospitalization as a result of his injuries the pilot provided a report to the NTSB stating that he could not remember anything about the accident. Examination of FAA records revealed that the pilot's last medical examination had been on February 1, 2000. On August 20, 2004, an FAA inspector examined the accident airplane, and no anomalies were found with the airframe, flight controls, or the engine and accessories.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Williston FL at 11:03 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from GNV
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.