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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 21, 1995 · Erwin Taylor MONO Plane Taylor MON · N6155Z

Freeport, PA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 21, 1995
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Freeport, PA
Aircraft
Erwin Taylor MONO Plane Taylor MON
Tail Number
N6155Z
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC95LA119

THE PILOT ELECTED TO USE THE RUNWAY MOST ALIGNED WITH THE WIND FOR TAKEOFF. IT WAS THE SHORTEST OF THE 3 RUNWAYS AT THE AIRPORT, ALL OF WHICH HAD A TURF SURFACE. THE PILOT REPORTED THE SLOPE WAS UPHILL, THE GRASS WAS LONG, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY, IN A NEAR STALLED CONDITION, AND THEN SETTLED INTO TREES BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's improper decision to initiate a takeoff on an uphill runway with high grass, which resulted in a premature lift off, and an inadvertent stall/mush into trees.

Full Narrative

On May 21, 1995, at 1730 eastern daylight time, a Taylor Mono Plane, N6155Z, an experimental, homebuilt airplane, struck trees after takeoff from the McVille Airport, Freeport, Pennsylvania. The builder/pilot, John D. Erwin, received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. McVille airport had three runways, all turf. Runway 3/21 was 2250 feet long, runway 18/36 was 2160 feet long, and runway 11/29 was 1420 feet long. The pilot reported the winds were from 310 degrees, at 10 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. In the NTSB Accident report, the pilot stated: ...I attempted to take off from runway 29. The grass was long and the runway lies uphill...The aircraft was slow to accelerate, but I felt it was sufficient for takeoff. I bounced once only to settle on the runway. After a short run further I was in the air but the airspeed was low and I found myself over the end of the runway in a near stall condition with trees ahead. The plane settled into the trees and pitched down and came to rest nose down at the base of the tree....

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:30 EDT
Nearest AirportMCVILLE (0nm)
Runway29
Runway Length1420 ft
Runway Width175 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftErwin Taylor MONO Plane Taylor MON
Tail NumberN6155Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRevmaster · 2100-D · Reciprocating · 65
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 10 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data