N3937T

Substantial
None

Taylorcraft F19 S/N: F-120

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, May 29, 1997
NTSB Number
LAX97LA207
Location
TRACY, CA
Event ID
20001208X07965
Coordinates
37.730236, -121.420120
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind gust, and his failure to maintain runway alignment after encountering the wind gust.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N3937T
Make
TAYLORCRAFT
Serial Number
F-120
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1978
Model / ICAO
F19 TF19
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
SALE REPORTED
Address
13289 FM 290
Status
Deregistered
City
RAYMONDVILLE
State / Zip Code
TX 78580
Country
United States

Analysis

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.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX97LA207