No fatalities

24 Aug 2012: AERONCA 11AC — Comfort, TX

Comfort, TX, United States

On 24 Aug 2012, an AERONCA 11AC was involved in an aviation accident near Comfort, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane after takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

After takeoff, while turning left at 250 feet, the left wing dropped 60-70 degrees. The pilot attempted recovery but the aircraft struck a fence. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.

Accident Overview

A pilot reported that after takeoff to the south, at an altitude of 250 feet above the ground, a left turn was initiated to transition to the crosswind leg. During the turn, the left wing dropped approximately 60 to 70 degrees. The pilot stated that recovery was attempted, but the aircraft struck a fence before the wings could be leveled.

Damage Description

The impact caused the engine cowling and firewall to become crushed and wrinkled. The empennage separated from the aircraft. Additionally, the outboard portion of the right wing was broken and torn.

Pilot Statement

The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the aircraft.

Conclusion

The accident sequence involved a substantial wing drop during a low-altitude turn, followed by impact with a fence. No mechanical issues were identified by the pilot.

Contributing factors

Pilot