Taylorcraft Aviation CORP F19 accident near Emporia, Kansas, March 31, 2012
On March 31, 2012 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Taylorcraft Aviation CORP F19, registered N3673T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Emporia, Kansas (Roberts Memorial airport). 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control while landing, which resulted in a ground loop and impact with a fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 2012 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Emporia, Kansas · Roberts Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft Aviation CORP F19 · all F19s on the register
- Registration
- N3673T · registry record · serial F-081
- 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 he was landing on runway 18 when the airplane started to yaw to the right. Rudder correction was not sufficient to stop the yaw, and the brakes did not seem to help. The runway consisted of about 8-inch-tall grass at the time. The pilot was ultimately unable to maintain directional control and the airplane rotated about 180 degrees before impacting a fence located about 30 feet from the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aft fuselage. Wind near the accident site was from 210 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 591 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 591 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 21, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,430 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SN04 Emporia KS at 5:00 pm
- Destination: SN04 Emporia KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from EMP, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.