Taylorcraft DCO-65 accident near Akron, Ohio, June 20, 2010
On June 20, 2010 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Taylorcraft DCO-65, registered N61720, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Akron, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2010 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Akron, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft DCO-65 · all DCO-65s on the register
- Registration
- N61720 · registry record · serial L5638
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane was operating normally during the engine checks prior to takeoff. About 10 minutes after takeoff, he was climbing to 2,500 feet above mean sea level when he noticed that the airplane was not gaining altitude and that the rpms were dropping. He checked the throttle position at full forward and he pulled the carburetor heat on. He then noticed that the oil pressure gauge was reading zero. The airplane continued to lose altitude, with the propeller windmilling and the rpm gauge reading about 1,000 rpm. He executed a forced landing to a wooded area since there were residential homes in the area and no open fields available. Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed no engine oil leaks and its oil level was at capacity. There was 2.5 gallons of fuel in the right wing tank and 1.3 gallons in the left fuel tank. The system capacity is 12 gallons total with 12 gallons of usable fuel. No water or contaminants were present. With the wings removed, the engine was started and 30+ psi of oil pressure was indicated on the oil pressure gauge within five seconds at idle power. The inspection revealed no deficiencies that would have precluded normal engine operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,562 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,370 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 29, 2009
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65 Series (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CAK Akron OH at 12:30 pm
- Destination: 27D Beach City OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 am from CAK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 CEN10CA330.