Taylorcraft DCO-65 accident near Calhoun, Georgia, September 1, 1991
On September 1, 1991 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Taylorcraft DCO-65, registered N43LT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Calhoun, Georgia (Mercer airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE GO-AROUND ATTEMPT. FACTOR(S) IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AT TOUCHDOWN, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MODEL OF AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1991 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Calhoun, Georgia · Mercer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft DCO-65 · all DCO-65s on the register
- Registration
- N43LT · no longer on the register · serial 5010
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS FLYING A NORMAL, VFR APPROACH FOR LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN FAST, AND BOUNCED. SOME DRIFT WAS ENCOUNTERED, AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A GO-AROUND. HE DID NOT CORRECT FOR THE WIND DRIFT, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH ADJACENT TREES. THE AIRPLANE THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. THE PILOT HAD FLOWN ONLY 3 HOURS IN THIS MODEL OF AIRPLANE. NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WERE REPORTED, AND NONE WERE FOUND DURING THE POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION.
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: 203 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,691 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1991; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6AO Cartersville GA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from MGE, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.