Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 TAIL DRAGGER accident near Elizabethtown, Kentucky, September 5, 2012
On September 5, 2012 at about 8:28 pm local time, a Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 TAIL DRAGGER, registered N237TA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Elizabethtown, Kentucky (Addington Field Airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during a takeoff in gusty crosswind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to take off in gusty wind conditions associated with approaching thunderstorms.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2012 · about 8:28 pm local time
- Place
- Elizabethtown, Kentucky · Addington Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 TAIL DRAGGER · all P92 TAIL DRAGGERs on the register
- Registration
- N237TA · registry record · serial 1414
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, just after he raised the tail to a level attitude, the airplane yawed slightly to the right. As the pilot was correcting for the right yaw, an “extreme wind gust” struck the airplane, and the airplane pitched nose-up and began to roll left. Despite the pilot’s efforts to regain directional control, the airplane departed the left side of the runway into a bean field where it nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He further stated that the accident would have been avoided if he had delayed his departure until the approaching weather system had passed. Weather radar data revealed that at the time of the accident a line of thunderstorms, associated with a front, were approaching the airport from the west and were observed over the airport about 8 minutes after the accident. The recorded wind at the time of the accident was from 320 degrees at 23 knots with a peak wind of 27 knots.
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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Convective weather › Thunderstorm › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 9,800 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 9,530 as pilot in command; 980 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 12, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 18, 2012; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming YO-233-BTA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EKX Elizabethtown KY at 8:20 pm
- Destination: MVN Mount Vernon IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 6,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft; a few clouds at 200 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 8:42 pm from FTK, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on December 27, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Writtent Statement to FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum of Record - Operator | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum of Record - FAA Inspector Viewing of Recorded Weather at Airport | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Memorandum of Record - Ft. Knox, Ky Weather | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Nexrad Weather radar Images - Elizabethtown, Ky | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Wreckage Diagram (Courtesy of the FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photo 1: Airplane at Rest (Courtesy of the FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Photo 2: Damage to Left Wing Strut (Courtesy of the FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.