Mcdonnell Douglas DC-3 accident near Titusville, Florida, July 9, 2001
On July 9, 2001 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-3, registered N3239T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Titusville, Florida (Spacecoast Regional Airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a bounced landing, resulting in a ground loop and subesequent collision with the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2001 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Titusville, Florida · Spacecoast Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-3
- Registration
- N3239T · registry record · serial 19054
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an attempted landing at the Titusville Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville, Florida, the airplane bounced three feet into the air. A decision was made by the PIC to go-around. Upon application of power, the airplane turned sharply left. On the second bounce, the airplane veered left, the left wing came up, and the airplane veered right. On the third bounce, the airplane was pointing about 80 degrees nose right of the runway heading. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the ground loop.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 226 in the last 90 days; 81 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 300 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 20, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 7, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,153 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 12, 2001; 7.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 25,200 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W R1830-92 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W R1830-92 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SOP Southern Pines NC at 2:15 pm
- Destination: TIX Titusville FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from TIS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.