- Date
- June 21, 1997, 07:00 local (11:00 UTC)
- Place
- Charleston, WV
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N47282Taylorcraft DCO-65
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 26, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970621047329A
- Case key
- 39403
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for unfavorable (variable) wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. The wind condition and proximity of a hangar were related factors.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot departed on a local personal flight and returned for landing. During the approach, the pilot performed a left slip to accelerate the descent and align with the runway. The airplane touched down with sideward movement and the left wingtip struck the ground. The airplane pulled to the left, and the pilot corrected with an application of right rudder. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and collided with a hangar.
Factual narrative
On June 21, 1997, at 0700 eastern daylight time, a Taylorcraft DCO-65, N47282, was substantially damaged during landing at the Mallory Airport (WV12), Charleston, West Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at WV12, about 0650. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In a written statement, the pilot reported:
"I was approaching to land at Mallory Airport over Rock Lake. I slipped to the left to [lose] altitude and get on the center line. The aircraft touched down while still moving sideways and touched the left wing tip on the ground. This pulled the aircraft to the left and I applied right rudder to correct. The aircraft then left the runway to the right and impacted a half-built hanger."
The weather reported at Charleston International Airport, 7 miles east of WV12, was calm wind and clear sky above some ground fog with 5 miles visibility.
In a written statement, the pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N47282
- Reported as
- Taylorcraft DCO-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- L-5182
- Engine
- Continental A&C75, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Fred S. Mason
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 21, 1997 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- WV12
- Airport
- WV12 · Mallory, runway 33, 2,000 × 24 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 210 total · 160 in this make and model · 160 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CRW, 7 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.
Other investigations on N47282 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.