# NTSB IAD96LA104: Taylorcraft F-19, N2004A, Mitchellville, MD, July 4, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 1996, 11:55 local (15:55 UTC) - Place: Mitchellville, MD - Coordinates: 38.950489, -76.72956 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9505&lon=-76.7296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28072 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28072/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA104 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll. Related factors were the gusty crosswind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - aircraft parked/standing ## Analysis The pilot reported that he completed one full stop landing successfully, and that the accident occurred during the second landing. The touchdown was normal, but about 3/4 of the way down the runway, the airplane weathervaned to the left. The airplane veered off the runway on a heading of 310 degrees and came to a stop after colliding with a parked Cessna 182. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction and that he was unable to regain directional control of the airplane as it exited the runway. The reported wind condition from Baltimore Washington International Airport was out of 290 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 20 knots. The pilot stated that he had 2 hours of flight time in the accident make and model airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 1996, at 1155 eastern daylight time, a Taylorcraft F-19, N2004A, veered off the runway and collided with a parked airplane during landing at Freeway Airport, in Mitchellville, Maryland. The pilot and the one passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Mitchellville, Maryland, exact time unknown. The pilot reported that prior to arriving at Mitchellville, he had completed 3 full stop landings successfully at Kentmoor Airpark, and Bay Bridge Airport. He stated that he completed one full stop landing at Mitchellville satisfactorily, and the accident occurred during the second landing at that airport. He stated that "...the touchdown was normal for the wind conditions. As the landing roll-out continued the aircraft weather vaned into the wind (to the left) about 3/4 of the way down the runway, proceeded on a heading of approximately 310 degrees and came to a stop after contacting the left wing strut of a Cessna 182...a strong attempt was being made to regain directional control and stop the aircraft with the wheel brakes...." The pilot reported that he had 2 hours of flight time in the accident aircraft, and that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunction. He also stated that he had received a weather briefing, which included the wind condition information. According to a weather observation taken at the Baltimore Washington International Airport, at 1154, the wind out of 290 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 20 knots. Baltimore Washington International Airport is located 15 nautical miles north-northeast of the accident site. The pilot's written report indicated that he used runway 18 for landing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Training Handbook states: " Though it is characteristic of most airplanes,...weathervaning tendency is more prevalent in the tailwheel-type [airplane] because the airplane's surface area behind the main landing gear is greater than in nosewheel-type airplanes." The FAA Flight Training Handbook further stated: "The greater the crosswind component the more difficult it is to prevent weathervaning." A copy of the FAA Flight Training Handbook Crosswind Component Chart, is appended. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2004A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2004A), registered now, S/N F-153, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft F-19 - 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: F-153 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vintage Aeroplanes Of Leesburg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 1995, 73 hours before - Departed: W00 - Airport: W00, Freeway, runway 18, 2,425 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 2 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BWI, 15 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 19960704016329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960704016329A), Jul 4, 1996: Tcraft F19, Mitchellville, MD, Substantial damage. On landing ground looped, ran off runway, hit parked plane, broke wing spars on left side, damaged left aileron. 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.