Probable cause
The student pilot's loss of control during the takeoff.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot stated that he was conducting a solo cross-country flight in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. He landed uneventfully at the destination airport, which was equipped with a turf runway, and to which he had flown with his instructor the previous day. After landing, the student pilot taxied the airplane back to the end of the runway to take off. He stated that he applied power to begin the takeoff roll, and the airplane lifted off the ground around 50 miles per hour. The student pilot lowered the airplane's nose to gain airspeed, and the airplane contacted the runway before impacting trees on the right side of the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the wing spar, and no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies were noted.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA11CA324 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 3, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Honea Path, South Carolina
- Nearest airport
- Honea Path (NA)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Aeronca 7AC
- N-number
- N84572
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
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.