# NTSB ERA14CA239: Taylorcraft BC 65, N29611, Summerville, GA, May 13, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 13, 2014, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Summerville, GA
- Coordinates: 34.469417, -85.340667 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4694&lon=-85.3407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89206
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA239
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89206/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89206
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA239

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of an inadequate altitude during low level maneuvering, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=8850306), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8850306), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=8850306), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=8850306), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8850306), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a local flight to take pictures of the passenger's house, while making a pass by the house the airplane entered a left turn. The passenger stated that he heard the pilot say "oh no," moments later the airplane impacted the tops of the trees. A witness on the ground stated she heard the airplane fly over and went outside to see it. At that time she heard the top of the trees "pop" and saw the aircraft hit the ground. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A subsequent examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any evidence of any preimpact failure of malfunction of the airplane, flight control system, or engine. Review of photographic evidence also revealed both wings evenly bent aft indicating the aircraft struck the trees in a level attitude in forward flight.

## Factual narrative

During a local flight to take pictures of the passenger's house, while making a pass by the house the airplane entered a left turn. The passenger stated that he heard the pilot say "oh no," moments later the airplane impacted the tops of the trees. A witness on the ground stated she heard the airplane fly over and went outside to see it. At that time she heard the top of the trees "pop" and saw the aircraft hit the ground. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A subsequent examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any evidence of any preimpact failure of malfunction of the airplane, flight control system, or engine. Review of photographic evidence also revealed both wings evenly bent aft indicating the aircraft struck the trees in a level attitude in forward flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N29611](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29611-2014-12-08), registration cancelled 2014-12-08, S/N 2453, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC 65
- Registry model: [Taylorcraft BC-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc-65) (registry code 8850306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2453
- Year built: 1940
- Airframe hours: 4100
- Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 2013
- Departed: GA23, Summerville, GA
- Destination: GA23, Summerville, GA
- Airport: GA23, Wyatt Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,000 total, 175 in this make and model, 2,900 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: DNN, 16 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 20140513009559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140513009559A), May 13, 2014: Taylorcraft BC-65, Summerville, GA, Substantial damage. On may 13, 2014 at approximately 1900 hours [privacy data omitted] and [privacy data omitted] were flying in [privacy data omitted] aircraft, N29611, 1940…

## Other investigations on N29611 (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 ATL83LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83LA146), Mar 23, 1983: Taylorcraft BC-65 (N29611), Mountain City, TN, substantial damage

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 2, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89206. 8.7 MB in all.

- NTSB Pilot 6120 Form (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413971&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Pilot%206120%20Form-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record – Weather (item 2, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413972&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413973&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413974&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 – Aircraft (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413975&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Aircraft%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Right Wing (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413976&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20Wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 – Tailwheel Assembly (Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 905 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413977&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Tailwheel%20Assembly%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-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.

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