# NTSB CEN09LA224: Taylorcraft F19, N3937T, Lake Vermillion, MN, March 14, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 14, 2009, 12:38 local (17:38 UTC) - Place: Lake Vermillion, MN - Coordinates: 47.810417, -92.289062 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8104&lon=-92.2891&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73525 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73525/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73525 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA224 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain proper pitch control resulting in a stall/spin. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Taylorcraft F19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=8850904), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=8850904), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F19, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8850904), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=8850904), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F19, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8850904), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was observed to lift off from a frozen lake and maintain a low altitude until reaching cruise speed. The airplane then pitched up into a steep climb during which it entered a spin and began a descent. The airplane impacted the lake while in the spin. An examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was not certified to have, nor was equipped with a stall warning system. ## Factual narrative On March 14, 2009, at 1238 central daylight time, a Taylorcraft Corporation, F19, N3937T, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain following takeoff from the frozen surface of Lake Vermillion, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot received serious injuries. The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident en route to Cook Municipal Airport, Cook, Minnesota. The pilot stated that he did not recall the accident, but stated that he kept the airplane in ground effect until climb out speed was attained. A witness stated that during takeoff, the airplane lifted off and maintained a low altitude above the ice on the lake. The airplane then rotated at a speed approximately near cruise speed and entered a "pretty steep climb." The airplane's speed decreased as it climbed to an altitude of about 300-400 feet above ground level at which point it did not level off. The airplane began to spin which continued until the airplane impacted the ice. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Civil Air Regulation (CAR), Part 3 was used to certify the first Taylorcraft model airplane, which was the Taylorcraft 19 on June 20, 1951. Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 23 (FAR 23), was first published in 1967. The Taylorcraft F19 received certification approval on July 3, 1973, under CAR 3 and FAR 23, but the certification standards relating to stalls was under CAR 3 amendment 3-4, which required a "clear and distinct stall warning." FAR 23.207 requires that the stall warning be "furnished either through the inherent aerodynamic qualities of the airplane or by a device that will give clearly distinguishable indications under expected conditions of flight..." N3937T was not equipped with a stall warning system and no known stall warning kits are available for Taylorcraft airplanes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3937T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3937T-2011-04-13), registration cancelled 2011-04-13, S/N F120, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft Corporation 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: F120 - Airframe hours: 1432.65 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 2008 - Departed: Lake Vermillion, MN - Destination: CQM, Cook, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 18, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 506 total, 470 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: CQM ## 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 20090314012519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090314012519A), Mar 14, 2009: Tcraft F19, Tower, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] taxied out from a "fly-in" on lake vermillion near Tower, MN, at approximately 1435 local. The approximate direction for multiple… ## Other investigations on N3937T (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 LAX97LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA207), May 29, 1997: Taylorcraft F19 (N3937T), Tracy, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind gust, and his failure to maintain runway alignment after encountering the wind gust. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 18, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73525. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 556 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Civil Air Regulations Amendment 3-4 (item 2, .PDF, 597 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317191&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Civil%20Air%20Regulations%20Amendment%203-4-Master.PDF - FAR 23.207 (item 3, .PDF, 187 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAR%2023.207-Master.PDF - Type Certificate Data Sheet (item 4, .PDF, 681 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317195&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Type%20Certificate%20Data%20Sheet-Master.PDF 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.