# Accident 20171217024299A: Golden Circle Air T-BIRD II, Wiscasset, ME, December 17, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 17, 2017, 15:30 local time
- Place: Wiscasset, ME
- Airport: Wiscasset
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.6936° N, 69.3813° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6936&lon=-69.3813&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5619Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5619Z-2019-05-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Golden Circle Air T-BIRD II (registry code 05901WD, https://openairdocs.org/model/golden-circle-air-t-bird-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 582DCDI (registry code 55562, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GOLDEN CIRCLE AIR T-BIRD II
- Reported engine: ROTAX 582DCDI
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,180 total, 125 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA105) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171217024299A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AT WISCASSET MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (IWI), WISCASSET MAINE ON 12-17-2017 AT ABOUT 2:40PM, N5619Z WITH JUST THE PILOT ON BOARD WAS TAKING OFF. THE PILOT STATED THAT ON HIS TAXI TO THE RUNWAY AND AFTER HE WAS ON THE RUNWAY FOR TAKE OFF, THAT BOTH WIND SOCKS WERE LIMP AND HAD LITTLE TO NO MOVEMENT. WHEN THE PILOT EXCELERATTED DOWN THE RUNWAY AND THE TAIL LIFTED OFF THE GROUND, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO WEATHERCOCK TO THE LEFT SLIGHTLY. AS HE CONTINUED TO ADD POWER AND THE MAIN WHEELS LIFTED OFF, THE AIRCRAFT WEATHERCOCKED FURTHER TO THE LEFT AT ALMOST A 90 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT CORRECTED WITH BOTH RUDDER AND AILERON INPUTS, BUT DID NOT SEEM TO BE ENOUGH TO OVERCOME WHAT APPEARED TO BE A STRONG WIND GUST. DUE TO A LINE OF TREES CLOSE TO THE RUNWAY ON THE LEFTSIDE, THE PILOT FELT THAT HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO POWEROUT OF THIS. HE MADE THE DECISSION TO SET THE AIRCRAFT BACK ON THE RUNWAY.  SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN THE LEFT WHEEL COUGHT A SNOWBANK AND PULLED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE RUNWAY AND IT SPUN IN THE SNOW OFF THE LEFTSIDE OF THE RUNWAY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA18CA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA105), Dec 17, 2017: Golden Circle Air T Bird II (N5619Z), Wiscassett, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.

## Other reports on N5619Z (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20120728015389I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120728015389I), Jul 28, 2012: Golden Circle Air T-BIRD II (N5619Z), Wiscasset, ME, Minor damage. Pilot was conducting a series of takoffs and landings. Whitnesses said all takeoffs and landings appeard normal. On the fourth landing the pilot made that day,…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.