N3580T

On February 14, 2000, at 1201 eastern standard time, a Taylorcraft F19, N3580T, was substantially damaged during an aborted landing at Emslie Pasture Airport, West Lafayette, Ohio. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight which originated from New Philadelphia, Ohio. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that he entered the traffic pattern at Emslie, and visually checked the windsock which was limp. He further stated in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report:

"Was landing at Emslie airport [to the east]. Grass was wet and slick. After landing, brakes were ineffective due to slick grass. Executed go around. While climbing, tail wheel hit electric wire, causing plane to nose dive into ground."

The pilot reported the airport was an uncontrolled, unattended, private airport with an east/west turf runway. He described the runway as 1,200 feet long, and 75 feet wide. The touchdown was within the first 25 feet of the runway. He rolled for 400 to 500 feet on the ground and then elected to abort the landing because the grass was slick and the brakes were ineffective. Power was applied to abort the landing, and the airplane was airborne just past mid-field. The pilot was familiar with the airport and the power line, and saw it well before the accident. He believed he would clear the line; however, once airborne the airplane did not climb. At the time of the accident, he had the airplane in a nose high attitude.

When questioned about the engine, the pilot reported that the engine appeared to be developing normal takeoff power.

The pilot also reported that the airport was in a valley and there was hill to the west of the airport.

The closest airport to the accident site, New Philadelphia, Ohio, located 19 nautical miles away on a bearing of 058 degrees, recorded winds from 300 degrees at 12 knots, visibility 7 miles, ceiling 1,100 feet overcast. The closest airport to south, Zanesville, Ohio, located 21 nautical miles away on a bearing of 204 degrees, recorded winds from 260 degrees at 12 knots, visibility 2 miles, light snow, and a ceiling of 600 feet overcast. Newark, Ohio, located 20 nautical miles away on a bearing of 144 degrees, recorded winds from 280 degrees at 11 knots, visibility 3 miles, light snow, and a ceiling of 1,100 feet overcast. Mansfield, Ohio, located 48 nautical miles away on a bearing of 318 degrees recorded winds from 330 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 1 3/4 miles, light snow, and a ceiling of 600 feet overcast.

The pilot reported winds calm, ceiling 3,500 feet overcast, and visibility 10 miles.

An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported the power line was located 400 feet from the departure end of the runway, and 30 feet in the air. In addition, he reported that when he arrived at the airport to inspect the airplane, snow was falling. No tire tracks were observed on the runway, nor were any witnesses located. However, the wind sock was operative and indicated a wind from the west.

The pilot reported the fuselage was bent, and the right wing spar and landing gear were crushed.