# NTSB CHI01LA177: Taylorcraft DCO-65, N46215, Kenosha, WI, June 17, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 2001, 16:14 local (21:14 UTC) - Place: Kenosha, WI - Coordinates: 42.619514, -87.829666 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6195&lon=-87.8297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52535 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52535/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA177 ## Probable cause the inadvertent stall by the pilot. The low altitude was a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane was maneuvering at an altitude of 20 feet above power lines while performing aerial observation when it impacted terrain. A witness described the airplane as perfuming a U-turn when it began to tilt and then begin a "quick" nose dive. Examination of the engine revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 2001, at 1614 central daylight time, a Taylorcraft DCO-65, N46215, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed on impact with terrain while orbiting an area two miles south of the Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW), Kenosha, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from ENW at 1600. A witness reported the following to police, "...[The witness] stated that the plane was flying south and was only about 20 feet above the power lines. [The witness] stated that the plane was flying very slow, but could not tell if the planes motor was working. [The witness] stated that she watched as the plane flew over STH 50 and stated it appeared the plane was going to attempt a turn around and return to the Kenosha Airport. [The witness] stated that as the plane began to perform a U-turn in an easterly direction above STH 50 the plane began to tilt and then began a quick nose dive straight toward the ground..." The pilot reported in a written statement: "...The [pilot] proceeded to make an unknown number of search passes between Highway 'K' and State Highway '50' south and slightly west of ENW at a speed of approximately 55 to 60 miles per hour, using carb heat when below 2,000 RPMs. The [pilot] recalls the tower advising at least one other aircraft of the location of the [pilot] and recalls hearing acknowledgement of the other aircraft of the traffic advisory. The next recollection that the [pilot] has was of seeing rescuers pull the [pilot] from the aircraft, which had impacted in the median of State Highway '50'..." Examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed fuel to be present in the fuel strainer at the firewall, the fuel line leading to the carburetor and the carburetor. No fuel contamination was noted. Compression on all cylinders and engine continuity was also obtained during the examination. The pilot reported a flight time of 3.1 hours in the past 90 days. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46215](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46215), registered now, S/N L-5048, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft DCO-65 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft DCO-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-dco-65) (registry code 8850408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: L5048 - Airframe hours: 2012 - Engines: Continental A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert R Jonczyk - Registered owner: DJL Enterprises - Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 2000, 7.5 hours before - Departed: ENW, Kenosha, WI - Airport: ENW, Kenosha Regional Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 15, 1999; seat: front; flight hours: 455 total, 345 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: ENW, 2 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 20010617020269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010617020269A), Jun 17, 2001: Kenosha, WI, No damage. (.19) On June 17, 2001, at 1614 central daylight time, a Taylorcraft DCO-65, N46215, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed on impact with terrain while… 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.