| Crash location | 27.976667°N, 82.758611°W |
| Nearest city | Clearwater, FL
27.965853°N, 82.800103°W 2.6 miles away |
| Tail number | N82406 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 20 Mar 2012 |
| Aircraft type | Aeronca 7AC |
| Additional details: | None |
The commercial pilot was receiving instruction in the tailwheel equipped airplane, from a certified flight instructor (CFI), and began the takeoff roll from runway 16, without incident. The commercial pilot stated that as he lifted the tailwheel off the runway, the airplane encountered a wind gust, veered to the left, and that he had "little to no" control of the airplane. The CFI assumed control of the airplane; however, it subsequently departed the left side of the runway and struck a fence. The airplane's main landing gear separated and the airframe was substantially damaged. Both pilots reported that they did not experience any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The commercial pilot reported 1,530 hours of total flight experience, which included 2 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. Winds reported an airport located about 5 miles southeast of the accident site, around the time of the accident, were from 120 degrees at 9 knots.
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision, which resulted in a runway excursion.