Cessna L-19 accident near Kenly, North Carolina, April 12, 2006
On April 12, 2006 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna L-19, registered N711WN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenly, North Carolina (Kenly Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's continued operation of the airplane with known deficiencies (tail wheel steering) which resulted in loss of directional control during the takeoff roll, and a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 2006 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kenly, North Carolina · Kenly Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna L-19 · all L-19s on the register
- Registration
- N711WN · registry record · serial 24501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during his initial takeoff roll he applied full right rudder and gradually advanced the throttle to full power. The pilot stated as full power was attained the aircraft veered to the left, and before he could regain control of the airplane it ground looped. The airplane bounced sideways causing the right main landing gear to separate from the airframe resulting in a propeller strike and the buckling of the right wing. The pilot reported that during the last annual inspection the tail wheel steering springs and chains were replaced. The pilot conducted four flights after the annual inspection and noticed that the airplane steered left, but he did not return the airplane for correction of the problem.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,376 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 2,249 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,491 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2006; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,990 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kenly NC at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from KRDU, 42 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL06CA064.