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GAA19CA366

2019-06-21 · Yerington, Nevada, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport O43

Current FAA registration · N49368

Make / Model
TAYLORCRAFT BC12-D
Year of manufacture
1946 · 73 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A61E88

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to properly secure the airplane before hand propping it, which resulted in the unmanned airplane moving and colliding with a fence.

Factual narrative

The pilot in tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, he tied a rope to the tail of his airplane and hand-propped the airplane. The engine started and "the rope snapped." Subsequently, the unmanned airplane collided with a chain-link fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, before attempting to take off, he tied a rope to the airplane's tail and then hand propped the airplane. The engine started, and "the rope snapped." Subsequently, the unmanned airplane started moving and then impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Fence/fence post-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA19CA366.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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