# NTSB CHI00LA097: Taylorcraft DC-65, N67754, Joplin, MO, March 25, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 25, 2000, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Joplin, MO - Coordinates: 37.079441, -94.499855 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0794&lon=-94.4999&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48846 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48846/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA097 ## Probable cause an inadequate rate of climb and the failure to attain clearance with the trees during the aborted landing. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's failure to attain a proper touchdown point during the landing, the trees which were contacted, and the pilot's lack of familiarity with this specific airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aborted landing - performed, pilot in command - climb - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - clearance - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot reported the airplane touched down 1/3 the way down the 1,500', grass airstrip. He said the airplane bounced and he noticed the airspeed was higher than 55 miles per hour (mph) he had established on final approach. He determined he could not stop before the end of the runway so he applied full power and established the best climb possible. The pilot reported the climb was very slow with two people aboard and the airplane contacted trees off the end of the airstrip prior to descending to impact with the terrain. The pilot purchased the airplane a couple days prior to the accident. He reported the airplane had been restored in 1990. The flight manual showed a stall speed of 45 mph, approach/departure speed of 55 mph, and a best cruise speed of 83 mph at 2150 rpm. The pilot reported his climb speed on takeoff from Aurora was 55 mph, and his cruise speed during the flight was 75 mph at 2150 rpm. ## Factual narrative On March 25, 2000, at 1145 central standard time, a Taylorcraft DC-65, N67754, operated by a commercial pilot, collided with trees and the terrain during an aborted landing from a private airstrip 3 miles northwest of Joplin, Missouri. The pilot received serious injuries and the passenger on board was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Aurora, Missouri, at 1115 cst. The pilot reported the airplane touched down about 1/3 the way down the 1,500 foot long, grass airstrip. He said the airplane bounced and he noticed the airspeed was higher than 55 miles per hour (mph) which he had established on final approach. He reported, "I could see we could not get stopped before the end. I immediately applied full power and established the best climb possible. The climb was very slow with two people aboard and I first clipped a small branch on the belly of the fuselage and thought we had made it but right away struck a larger part of a tree and it caught the wing and skewed us in a flat turning motion just beyond the trees where we struck the ground landing gear first." The pilot had purchased the airplane a couple days prior to the accident. He reported the airplane had been restored in 1990. According to the pilot, the flight manual showed a stall speed of 45 mph, approach/departure speed of 55 mph, and a best cruise speed of 83 mph at 2150 rpm. He reported his climb speed on takeoff from Aurora was 55 mph, and his cruise speed during the flight was 75 mph at 2150 rpm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67754](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67754), registered now, S/N 6108 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft DC-65 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft DC-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-dc-65) (registry code 8850402) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6108 - Airframe hours: 2038 - Engines: Continental A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Layne S. Campbell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 16, 1999, 1 hours before - Departed: 2H2, AURORA, MO - Airport: PVT, Campbell Field, runway 12, 1,500 × 70 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,164 total, 49 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: JLN ## 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 20000325012659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000325012659A), Mar 25, 2000: Beech 65, Joplin, MO, No damage. (-23) Mr campbell departed aurora, MO. After purchasing N67754, a Taylorcraft L-2 a/c. while acting as a pilot in command, he attempted a landing on a privated… 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.