# NTSB NYC95LA119: Erwin Taylor Mono Plane, N6155Z, Freeport, PA, May 21, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 21, 1995, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Freeport, PA
- Coordinates: 40.680419, -79.679855 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6804&lon=-79.6799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 31, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38967
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA119
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38967/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA119

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper decision to initiate a takeoff on an uphill runway with high grass, which resulted in a premature lift off, and an inadvertent stall/mush into trees.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not attained
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PILOT ELECTED TO USE THE RUNWAY MOST ALIGNED WITH THE WIND FOR TAKEOFF.  IT WAS THE SHORTEST OF THE 3 RUNWAYS AT THE AIRPORT, ALL OF WHICH HAD A TURF SURFACE.  THE PILOT REPORTED THE SLOPE WAS UPHILL, THE GRASS WAS LONG, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE.  THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY, IN A NEAR STALLED CONDITION, AND THEN SETTLED INTO TREES BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.

## Factual narrative

On May 21, 1995, at 1730 eastern daylight time, a Taylor Mono Plane, N6155Z, an experimental, homebuilt airplane, struck trees after takeoff from the McVille Airport, Freeport, Pennsylvania.  The builder/pilot, John D. Erwin, received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

McVille airport had three runways, all turf.  Runway 3/21 was 2250 feet long, runway 18/36 was 2160 feet long, and runway 11/29 was 1420 feet long.

The pilot reported the winds were from 310 degrees, at 10 knots, with gusts to 15 knots.

In the NTSB Accident report, the pilot stated:

...I attempted to take off from runway 29.  The grass      was long and the runway lies uphill...The aircraft was      slow to accelerate, but I felt it was sufficient for      takeoff.  I bounced once only to settle on the runway.       After a short run further I was in the air but the      airspeed was low and I found myself over the end of the      runway in a near stall condition with trees ahead.  The      plane settled into the trees and pitched down and came      to rest nose down at the base of the tree....

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6155Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6155Z-1996-03-09), registration cancelled 1996-03-09, S/N 1993 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ERWIN TAYLOR MONO PLANE (TAYLOR MON)
- Registry model: [Erwin John D TAYLOR MONOPLANE](https://openairdocs.org/model/erwin-john-d-taylor-monoplane) (registry code 056202J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1993
- Airframe hours: 112
- Engines: REVMASTER 2100-D 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John D. Erwin
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 1994, 51 hours before
- Departed: P37
- Destination: P53, MONONGAHELA, PA
- Airport: P37, Mc Ville, runway 29, 1,420 × 175 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 720 total, 112 in this make and model, 530 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19950521030129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950521030129A), May 21, 1995: Amtrty TAYLORMONO, Freeport, PA, Substantial damage. Tried depart tall grass uphill runway. Lift off behind power curve. Settled into trees end of runway.

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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