HARVARD, IL, USA
N3688T
TAYLORCRAFT F19
THE PILOT/AIRPLANE CO-OWNER DEPARTED FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT WITH ONE OF HIS BROTHERS AS A PASSENGER. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE IN A STEEP, SPIRALING DESCENT INTO THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN OPEN FIELD LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTION. THE AIRPLANE HAD OPERATED 13 HOURS SINCE THE MOST RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION WHICH WAS COMPLETED ABOUT 7 1/2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. A SURVIVING BROTHER/AIRPLANE CO-OWNER REPORTED NEITHER THE AIRPLANE NOR THE PILOT HAD FLOWN FOR ABOUT 4 1/2 MONTHS BEFORE THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED A COMBINATION OF 80 OCTANE AVIATION FUEL AND AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB OUT. A RELATED FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
