Taylorcraft DCO-65 accident near Little Falls, Minnesota, September 30, 2002
On September 30, 2002 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Taylorcraft DCO-65, registered N50107, was substantially damaged in an accident near Little Falls, Minnesota (Little Falls/Morrison County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate starting procedure by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 2002 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Little Falls, Minnesota · Little Falls/Morrison County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft DCO-65 · all DCO-65s on the register
- Registration
- N50107 · registry record · serial L-4984
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane departed and impacted a building and trees, without the pilot, after the pilot hand started the airplane without anyone aboard the airplane. The parking brake reportedly "let go," and the pilot then tripped and fell while attempting to reach into the airplane to grab the throttle after the engine started. Federal Aviation Administration guidance for hand starting an airplane states that a qualified person should be at the controls while a second is hand propping the airplane. Also, the airplane should be securely chocked or tied down and the fuel selector valve may be set to "off" with proper priming and then set to "on" once the engine has been started.
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: 697 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: STC St. Cloud MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.54 inHg
- Observation at 10:42 pm from LXL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.