- Date
- September 24, 2022, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Buffalo, NY
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5619MTaylorcraft BC12
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20220924016449A
- Case key
- 105995
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during initial climb after a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin at low altitude.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The vintage tailwheel airplane was on final approach to the runway in a left crosswind. A witness, who was also president of the airport flying club, was mowing grass adjacent to the runway and saw the accident. He stated that the airplane approached the runway low and was “crabbing hard” to the left. The pilot then initiated a go-around. The engine noise increased, but the airplane attempted a go-around at a 90° left angle to the runway. The airplane cleared trees, experienced a “power on stall,” and descended nose first into a grove. The pilot reported that he was injured in the accident and did not remember anything after being 25 ft over the runway on approach; however, he reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The inspector noted substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5619M
- Reported as
- Taylorcraft BC12 (D85)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12019
- Built
- 1948
- Airframe hours
- 1,980
- Engine
- Continental C-85-8, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 22, 2022 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- 17NK · Rock Stream, NY
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- D51 · Clarence Aerodrome, runway 28, 2,500 × 67 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 5, 2021
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 1,020 total · 830 in this make and model · 983 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- BUF, 8 nm away
- METAR
- KBUF 241654Z 24007KT 10SM FEW035 BKN200 BKN250 16/07 A3003
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2023, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.