# NTSB SEA74FTA22: Taylorcraft DCO-65, N53762, Fishtail, MT, April 7, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 7, 1974
- Place: Fishtail, MT · FISHTAIL, MT
- Location: 45.4481° N, 109.5084° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fishtail, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4481&lon=-109.5084&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 186367
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA74FTA22
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74FTA22

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0795   74/4/7  NR.FISHTAIL,MONT      TAYLORCRAFT DCO-65  CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 20, 57 TOTAL
        TIME - 1800                    N53762              PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  HOURS, 37 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RICKMAN RANCH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         FISHTAIL,MONT                BILLINGS,MONT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ANTI-ICING/DEICING EQUIPMENT-IMPROPER OPERATION OF/OR FAILED TO USE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-CARBURETOR
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - OTHER
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      45
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          225                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT HAD TO AVOID FENCE-WG HIT GRND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N53762](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53762-2012-03-30), registration cancelled 2012-03-30, S/N 5257, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT DCO-65
- Registry model: [Taylorcraft DCO-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-dco-65) (registry code 8850408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Rickman Ranch

## 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 19740407007339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740407007339A), Apr 7, 1974: Tcrafk DCO65, Fishtail, MT, Substantial damage. Plt had to avoid fence-wg hit grnd.

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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