Taylorcraft F-19 accident near Chenga Bay, Alaska, December 22, 2005
On December 22, 2005 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Taylorcraft F-19, registered N3615T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chenga Bay, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance during takeoff initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees, and subsequent collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 2005 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chenga Bay, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft F-19
- Registration
- N3615T · no longer on the register · serial F-068
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private certificated pilot was departing from a remote area on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. During the initial climb, the airplane drifted to the left, and the left wing collided with trees about 20 feet above the ground. The airplane pivoted to the left, and descended nose down to the ground. A postaccident fire further damaged the airplane. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,081 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 1,081 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,837 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290D2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Chenga Bay AK at 5:00 pm
- Destination: PAWD Seward AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.