Aeronca 65CA accident near Ravenswood, West Virginia, February 6, 2005
On February 6, 2005 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Aeronca 65CA, registered N33779, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ravenswood, West Virginia (Jackson County airport). It was a personal flight 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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control while landing. A factor in this accident was the crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 2005 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ravenswood, West Virginia · Jackson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 65CA · all 65CAs on the register
- Registration
- N33779 · registry record · serial C13301
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was landing on runway 4, a 4,001-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot reported that the airplane was above the runway centerline, when he began to flare; however, a wind gust caused the airplane to veer to the right. The airplane came to rest in a ravine. Several witnesses reported that they observed the airplane veer off the right side of the runway, and over an embankment. One witness stated that the weather was "very windy." Winds reported at an airport located about 31 miles northeast of the accident site, were from 320 degrees at 5 knots.
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: 1,727 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,204 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2004; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental AC65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 80A7 Stockport OH at 7:00 pm
- Destination: I18 Ravenwood WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 4,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PKB, 31 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.