# NTSB ANC97LA119: Taylorcraft TC-19, N3560T, Anchorage, AK, August 11, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 1997, 21:45 local (Aug 11, 1997, 05:45 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Location: 61.2135° N, 149.8447° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MERRILL FLD (MRI), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2135&lon=-149.8447&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3042 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3042/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA119 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive descent rate during a touch-and-go landing, which resulted in damage to the landing gear and inability to control the airplane during a subsequent landing. A factor was his lack of total experience in tailwheel-equipped airplanes. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, emergency landing - landing gear,main gear strut - bent - landing gear,tailwheel assembly - bent - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - runway light ## Analysis While performing practice landings, the pilot reported the airplane 'hit hard, I heard a loud snap, and did a go around.' A pilot in another airplane visually confirmed damage to the right main landing gear and tailwheel. The airplane was flown to its home base. A power-off landing was performed, the airplane ground looped and departed the right side of the runway, damaging the right wingtip and a runway light. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 1997 at 2145 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Taylorcraft TC-19 airplane, N3560T, sustained substantial damage when it ground looped on landing at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The private pilot was uninjured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a local, personal flight, from Merrill Field. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he departed Merrill Field at 2030 for landings at Goose Bay, Alaska, and New Wasilla, Alaska. During touch and go landings at New Wasilla, the pilot said the airplane "hit hard, I heard a loud snap, and did a go around." A pilot in another airplane visually confirmed that landing gear damage existed to the right gear leg and tailwheel. The airplane was flown to Merrill Field, and ground looped during landing on the 3,999 long by 100 feet wide asphalt runway, damaging the right wingtip, the right aileron, and a runway light. The pilot was first endorsed for flight in tailwheel airplanes on May 8, 1997. He purchased the accident airplane in Arizona on May 18, 1997. He completed the ferry flight to Anchorage on July 16, 1997. This was the third flight in the airplane since completion of the ferry trip. He had a total of 57 hours and 34 landings in this airplane. He had eight prior training flights in tailwheel airplanes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3560T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3560T-2023-10-02), registration cancelled 2023-10-02, S/N F-019, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft TC-19 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft F19](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-f19) (registry code 8850904) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F-019 - Airframe hours: 700 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Keith R. Willoughby - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 1997, 39 hours before - Departed: IYS, NEW WASILLA, AK - Destination: MRI, MERRILL FIELD, AK - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 6, 3,999 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 181 total, 148 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 2 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MRI ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19970810025979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970810025979A), Aug 10, 1997: Tcraft F19, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (.4)While performing practice landings, the pilot reported the airplane 'hit hard, I heard a loud snap, and did a go around.' A pilot in another airplane… ## Other investigations on N3560T (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 CEN23LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA004), Oct 3, 2022: Taylorcraft F19 (N3560T), Waconia, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a touch-and-go landing. 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. --- 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.