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CEN11CA613

2011-09-01 · Higginsville, Missouri, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport HIG

Current FAA registration · N46112

Make / Model
TAYLORCRAFT DCO-65
Year of manufacture
1943 · 68 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19561231
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A59FE8

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing and his failure to maintain clearance from trees during the attempted aborted landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, while landing, the wind lifted the left wing of the tailwheel equipped airplane. As the wing began to come back down, a ground loop started and the airplane started to depart the right side of the runway. The pilot stated that due to observed terrain obstructions, he elected to abort the landing and applied engine power. The pilot reported that he attempted to clear a row of trees, but the airplane struck the trees and fell to the ground. The reported wind at an airport about 22 miles south of the accident site was recorded as 14 knots and 50 degrees right of runway heading. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies with regard to the airplane. The airplane damage included bending of the left wing. According to the pilot, during landing the wind lifted the left wing of the tailwheel-equipped airplane. As the wing came back down, the airplane began to ground loop and the airplane veered toward the right side of the runway. Due to observed terrain obstructions, the pilot elected to abort the landing and applied engine power. He attempted to clear a row of trees, but the airplane struck the trees and fell to the ground. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies with regard to the airplane. The airplane damage included bending of the left wing. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Aircraft capability-Climb capability-Attain/maintain not possible - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_CEN11CA613.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.