Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of airplane control during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
NTSB analysis
During landing, the tailwheel-equipped airplane ground looped and struck trees off the left side of the runway. The pilot reported that the airplane's right brake was "ineffective" during the landing; however, the airplane was partially disassembled and placed into storage before a detailed postaccident examination of the brake assembly could be performed. Therefore, it could not be determined if a brake anomaly occurred.
The pilot stated that the flight was to be the airplane's last flight before being placed in permanent storage and that the airplane had not received an annual inspection for several years. A brake inspection is a routine part of an annual inspection; therefore, it is possible that, if the airplane had received an annual inspection and a brake anomaly did exist, it could have been detected and corrected before the accident flight.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC13LA065 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 13, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska
- Nearest airport
- Talkeetna Village Strip (AK44)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Aeronca 15AC
- N-number
- N1374H
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1949
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.