# NTSB LAX88FA204: Taylorcraft BL65, N27463, Eloy, AZ, May 30, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 30, 1988, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Eloy, AZ
- Location: 32.7559° N, 111.5548° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eloy, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7559&lon=-111.5548&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25837
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88FA204
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25837/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA204

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT SPIRAL. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, climb
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - spiral

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB, AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED OUT OF CONTROL SPIRALLING TO GROUND. PILOT HAD RESTORED THE AIRCRAFT AND HAD ONLY 12 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN MAKE AND MODEL. PILOT HAD FAILED HIS FIRST FLIGHT TEST FOR PRIVATE PILOT RATING 17 MONTHS PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. IMPROPER USE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS DURING STALL RECOVERY WAS CITED IN NOTICE OF DISAPPROVAL. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF PILOT RECEIVING FORMAL TRAINING IN ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27463](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27463-2014-09-25), registration cancelled 2014-09-25, S/N 2105, built 1939 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BL65
- Registry model: [Taylorcraft BL-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bl-65) (registry code 8850350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2105
- Airframe hours: 2177
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John T. Kell
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 1988, 9 hours before
- Departed: E60, ELOY, AZ
- Airport: E60

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 103 total, 12 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 13 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TUS, 50 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 19880530016249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880530016249A), May 30, 1988: Tcraft BL65, Eloy, AZ, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Stalled the vintage restored aircraft on takeoff climb and impacted near vertical. Had prior failed stall recovery.

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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