Aeronca 11-AC accident near Green Cove Spgs, Florida, June 16, 1996
On June 16, 1996 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 11-AC, registered N9261E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Green Cove Spgs, Florida (Haller Airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper planning/decision by failing to ensure that the airplane would be able to clear obstructions at the end of the runway, while taking off with a tailwind component; and his failure (or inability) to flare the airplane after turning back to land on the runway. The tailwind and high obstructions were related factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1996 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Green Cove Spgs, Florida · Haller Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 11-AC · all 11-ACs on the register
- Registration
- N9261E · registry record · serial 896
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot took off in a quartering tailwind with a passenger, who was interested in purchasing the airplane. After the airplane became airborne, the pilot determined the airplane would not clear a tree line, ahead. He made a 180 degree turn, did not round out, and landed hard on the runway. During the landing, the right main landing gear collapsed.
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: 30 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,871 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 8, 1995; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FL7A at 7:58 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft by 72 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:46 pm from GNV, 60 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.