# NTSB LAX08CA291: Taylorcraft F19, N208AP, Harper, OR, September 6, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 5, 2008, 18:30 local (Sep 6, 2008, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Harper, OR - Coordinates: 43.825279, -117.645835 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8253&lon=-117.6458&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68885 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA291 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68885/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA291 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree during the takeoff initial climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F19, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=8850904), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=8850904), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft F19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=8850904), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said that he was departing from a private, soft, dirt airstrip. He asked the airstrip's owner for his departure recommendation, which was to stay on the left side of the 12-foot-wide airstrip. Immediately after liftoff, the left wing tip struck a tree branch, and the airplane rotated 90 degrees as it fell to the ground. The outboard 3 feet of the left wing was crushed by the impact and the fuselage, firewall, and rudder were wrinkled and/or bent. ## Factual narrative The pilot said that he was departing from a private, soft, dirt airstrip. He asked the airstrip's owner for his departure recommendation, which was to stay on the left side of the 12-foot-wide airstrip. Immediately after liftoff, the left wing tip struck a tree branch, and the airplane rotated 90 degrees as it fell to the ground. The outboard 3 feet of the left wing was crushed by the impact and the fuselage, firewall, and rudder were wrinkled and/or bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N208AP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N208AP), registered now, S/N F-105, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft F19 - 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-105 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: NONE, Harper, OR - Destination: NONE, Harper, OR - Airport: NONE, Butler Ranch, runway 09, 2,200 × 12 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 961 total, 833 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ONO ## 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 20080905843789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080905843789A), Sep 5, 2008: Tcraft F19, Harper, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) Taylorcraft N208AP, took off on the left side of runway to the east because the airstrip was dry/deep powder. The left wing hit tree branches… 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.