N23548

On May 17, 1998, at 1800 central daylight time, an Aeronca 65-C airplane, N23548, owned and operated by a private individual under Title 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage during a loss of control while landing near Ozark, Arkansas. The solo student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross country solo instructional flight that departed Huntsville, Arkansas, at 1715. A flight plan was not filed.

The student pilot, endorsed for solo flight in the aircraft, had flown 33.3 hours (24.8 solo) in this aircraft. The student pilot reported that during the wheel landing, the airplane nosed over to the inverted position.

The FAA inspector, examining the airplane, found structural damage to the wing and spars. The cabin area exhibited buckling.

The owner/witness reported that the aircraft landed in the center of the runway with the tailwheel approximately one foot off the runway surface. As the aircraft's speed slowed, the tail became more elevated and the aircraft flipped over and landed on its back. At the time of the accident the wind was calm. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the wheels spun freely and the brakes functioned normally. The right wing was twisted and several ribs on the left wing were damaged. Fabric damage occurred to the right wing and the vertical stabilizer. The propeller, engine, and carburetor were damaged.