# NTSB LAX97LA207: Taylorcraft F19, N3937T, Tracy, CA, May 29, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 29, 1997, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Tracy, CA - Coordinates: 37.730236, -121.42012 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7302&lon=-121.4201&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29809 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA207 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29809/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA207 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind gust, and his failure to maintain runway alignment after encountering the wind gust. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - fence ## Analysis The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings on runway 29. During the landing flare at 15 feet above the surface, a wind gust was encountered from 340 degrees at 20 knots. The pilot reported that the airplane yawed 45 degrees left, and the gust pushed the airplane off the runway. The pilot applied full engine power to recover; however, directional control was lost. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and collided with a fence. ## Factual narrative On May 29, 1997, at 1400 hours Pacific daylight time, a Taylorcraft Aviation Corporation F19, N3937T, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with a fence during an attempted landing on runway 29 at the Tracy, California, airport. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed for the local area flight which commenced from Tracy at 1300. The pilot reported that the accident occurred while he was practicing touch-and-go landings. The pilot indicated that he encountered a wind gust during the landing flare at 15 feet above the surface of runway 29. The gust was from 340 degrees at 20 knots. He stated that the gust pushed the airplane off the runway. The nose of the airplane yawed 45 degrees left, and the pilot applied full engine power to recover. Unable to maintain directional control, the airplane exited the left side of the runway and collided with a fence. The pilot also reported that no mechanical malfunctions or failures precipitated the collision. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3937T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3937T-2011-04-13), registration cancelled 2011-04-13, S/N F120, built 1978 (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-120 - Airframe hours: 1065 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Olaf Asmis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 1996, 29 hours before - Departed: TCY - Airport: TCY, Tracy, runway 29, 3,680 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 304 total, 76 in this make and model, 127 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19970529013849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970529013849A), May 29, 1997: Tcraft F19, Tracy, CA, Substantial damage. Encountered wind gust during flare. Unable to control. Exited left side of runway and collided with fence. ## Other investigations on N3937T (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 CEN09LA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA224), Mar 14, 2009: Taylorcraft F19 (N3937T), Lake Vermillion, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain proper pitch control resulting in a stall/spin. 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.