# NTSB SEA04LA156: Taylorcraft DC-65, N61021, Wamic, OR, August 7, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 2004, 17:30 local (Aug 7, 2004, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Wamic, OR - Coordinates: 45.254722, -121.293609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2547&lon=-121.2936&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59856 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04LA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59856/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA156 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain airspeed, resulting in a stall. The pilot's failure to use all of the available runway, and the high-gusty winds were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot was departing on runway 25 (2,433 feet) after refueling. He said the weather was clear, but the wind was high and gusty with turbulence and downdrafts. Witnesses said that he departed from midfield, veered to the right, and had a very nose-high attitude. The airplane subsequently stalled to the ground. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2004, at approximately 1730 Pacific daylight time, a Taylorcraft DC-65, N61021, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground shortly after takeoff from Pine Hollow Airport (32OR), near Wamic, Oregon. The private pilot was seriously injured and his passenger received minor injuries. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country personal flight which was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan but said that his destination was Sunriver, Oregon. The pilot said that he had stopped at Pine Hollow Airport for fuel, and was departing on runway 25. He said that he decided not to use the eastern 25 percent of the 2,433 foot long runway because of wind turbulence caused by buildings on the south side of the runway. He said that as he lifted off at midfield, he encountered a down draft, and he maneuvered to the north where there was an open field (clear of a house and trees) for a possible off-field landing. The pilot said that he encountered another down draft, and the airplane stalled to the left, impacting the ground. The airplane's right wing spar was broken, the left wing tip was bent, and the engine was pushed aft into the cockpit. Two pilot witnesses said that they watched the airplane taxi to the runway midfield and takeoff. They both stated that shortly after liftoff the pilot veered to the north and then pulled up into a very nose-high attitude. The airplane subsequently stalled to the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61021](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61021), registered now, S/N 6182, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft DC-65 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft DC-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-dc-65) (registry code 8850402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6182 - Engines: Continental A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John S. McKibbin IV - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 2004, 2 hours before - Departed: 32OR, Wamic, OR - Destination: S21, Sunriver, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 5, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 787 total, 85 in this make and model, 787 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: DLS, 23 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 20040806017859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040806017859A), Aug 6, 2004: Tcrafk DC65TCRAFT, Wamic, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) N61021, a taylor craft DC-65, crashed following takeoff from pine hollow airstrip (grass) near Wamic, OR at about 1700 LCL. Pilot and observer… 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.