# NTSB BFO94LA115: Taylorcraft F19, N2000U, Orrington, ME, June 18, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 18, 1994, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Orrington, ME - Location: 44.7312° N, 68.8264° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Orrington, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7312&lon=-68.8264&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 5, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8943 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8943/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA115 ## Probable cause THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. RELATED FACTORS WERE THE SOFT, AND UPSLOPE FIELD. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor) ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE FAA, THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST TIME LANDING ON THIS SOFT, SHORT, UPSLOPE FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE CALM, AND FINAL APPROACH WAS FAIRLY STEEP. HE STATED THAT HE FLARED AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, BUT FAILED TO ARREST THE HIGH RATE OF DESCENT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT MAIN GEAR SANK INTO THE SOFT FIELD AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED DOWN FOR A MOMENT THEN CAME TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD MORE AIRSPEED AND APPROACHED THE UPSLOPING FIELD AT A SHALLOWER ANGLE. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 1994, at 0830 eastern daylight time, N2000U, a Taylorcraft F19, sustained substantial damage during landing at a private field at Swett's Pond, Orrington, Maine. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant was not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was operated under 14 CFR 91 and originated in Brewer, Maine. According to an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, this was the pilot's first time landing at this field. The pilot reported that, "...final approach was over water, westbound, calm winds. Utilized fairly steep approach, cleared low bushes near shoreline, flared to land at approximately 45 mph, failed to arrest high rate of sink near stall speed (43mph). The airplane's right main gear sank into the soft field and the aircraft nosed over for a moment then came to rest in an upright position. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction, and the accident could have been prevented if he had more airspeed and approached the upsloping field at a shallower angle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2000U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2000U), registered now, S/N F-124, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT F19 - 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-124 - Airframe hours: 607 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Rodney L Hanscom - Registered owner: Rodney L Hanscom - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1993, 36 hours before - Departed: OB2, BREWER, ME - Destination: OB2, ME - Airport: PVT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,213 total, 312 in this make and model, 1,131 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BGR, 5 nm away ## 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 19940618047909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940618047909A), Jun 18, 1994: Tcraft F19, Orrington, ME, Substantial damage. Failed to arrest slow speed high sink rate. Right wheel sank in soft mud on impact. Nosed up and fell back upright. 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.