Friday, June 19, 2020

Loss of Control on Ground: Waco YMF-F5C, N323TX; accident occurred June 13, 2020 at Kline Kill Airport (NY1), Ghent, Columbia County, New York







Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Albany, New York

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Ghent, New York
Accident Number: ERA20CA214
Date & Time: June 13, 2020, 09:30 Local
Registration: N323TX
Aircraft: Waco YMF F5C 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped bi-plane was performing practice takeoffs and landings on a 75-foot-wide turf runway following an uneventful local flight. During the fourth takeoff, the airplane accelerated down the runway and after the pilot raised the tailwheel off the ground, the airplane suddenly drifted toward the left side of the runway. The left-wing tip contacted trees and brush near the runway's left edge, and pivoted the airplane left into the trees. Both wings and the fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot also reported that "modest but variable and gusty winds" prevailed at the time of the accident.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A loss of directional control on takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with trees.

Findings

Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot

Factual Information

History of Flight

Takeoff Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Takeoff Collision during takeoff/land

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial 
Age: 69, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None 
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: December 19, 2019
Occupational Pilot: UNK 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: August 17, 2019
Flight Time: (Estimated) 1150 hours (Total, all aircraft), 16 hours (Total, this make and model), 960 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 35 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 19 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Passenger Information

Certificate:
Age: Male
Airplane Rating(s): 
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): 
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: 
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Waco 
Registration: N323TX
Model/Series: YMF F5C No Series 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2011 
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal 
Serial Number: F5C-8-124
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 3
Date/Type of Last Inspection: July 14, 2019 Annual 
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2950 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 24 Hrs
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 296.7 Hrs at time of accident 
Engine Manufacturer: Jacobs
ELT: C91A installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: R755A2M
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 300 Horsepower
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PSF, 1188 ft msl 
Distance from Accident Site: 16 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 09:54 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 73°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 4000 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots / 18 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 270° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.19 inches Hg 
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C / 6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Ghent, NY (NY1)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Ghent, NY (NY1)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 09:00 Local
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Kline Kill NY1 
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 386 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Vegetation
Runway Used: 01
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4000 ft / 75 ft 
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 42.347221,-73.635559(est)

Location: Ghent, NY
Accident Number: ERA20CA214
Date & Time: 06/13/2020, 0930 EDT
Registration: N323TX
Aircraft: Waco YMF F5C
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped bi-plane was performing practice takeoffs and landings on a 75-foot-wide turf runway following an uneventful local flight. During the fourth takeoff, the airplane accelerated down the runway and after the pilot raised the tailwheel off the ground, the airplane suddenly drifted toward the left side of the runway. The left wing tip contacted trees and brush near the runway's left edge, and pivoted the airplane left into the trees. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that both wings and the fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot also reported that "modest but variable and gusty winds" prevailed at the time of the accident. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 69, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 12/19/2019
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 08/17/2019
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 1150 hours (Total, all aircraft), 16 hours (Total, this make and model), 960 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 35 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 19 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Waco
Registration: N323TX
Model/Series: YMF F5C No Series
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: F5C-8-124
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 3
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/14/2019, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2950 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 24 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 296.7 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Jacobs
ELT: C91A installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: R755A2M
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 300 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PSF, 1188 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 16 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0954 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 73°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 4000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots / 18 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 270°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.19 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C / 6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Ghent, NY (NY1)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Ghent, NY (NY1)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0900 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Kline Kill (NY1)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 386 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Vegetation
Runway Used:01
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4000 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 42.347222, -73.635556 (est)





GHENT, New York (NEWS10) — The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported crash that involved a small airplane at the Kline Kill Airport Saturday morning.

Police say just after 10 a.m. Columbia County dispatched Deputies to a privately owned airport with a grass runway for a reported plane crash that was heard by a nearby resident.

Police say Sgt. Heath Benansky was on scene and found the plane which had crashed into the woods along the side of the runway. The Waco YMF-F5C aircraft, was being piloted by Stephen Clearman, 69, of Ghent. One passenger was in the plane at the time of the crash, a 73-year-old man also from Ghent.

Police say the initial investigation revealed that Clelarman was trying to take off when the left wing of the place clipped a tree alongside of the runway causing the plane to spin around and crash into several other small trees before stopping in the woods.

Police say Clearman and his passenger were not injured in the crash. The FAA was notified and will be sent out to further investigate the accident and inspect the plane.

Members of the Sheriff’s Office on scene investigating the crash along with Sgt Benansky were Undersheriff John Davi, Lieutenant Louis Bray, Investigator KC Bauhoff, Deputy Steven Rose and Deputy Ryen Boehme. The Ghent Fire Department was also on scene to help.

https://www.news10.com

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