Taylorcraft DCO-65 accident near Renovo, Pennsylvania, June 7, 2026
On June 7, 2026 at about 8:45 pm local time, a 1943 Taylorcraft DCO-65, registered N47123, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Renovo, Pennsylvania. 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 pilot’s failure to maintain control during an off-airport landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2026 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Renovo, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft DCO-65, built 1943 · all DCO-65s on the register
- Registration
- N47123 · registry record · serial 5133
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting an off-airport landing, and during the landing roll out, the tailwheel-equipped airplane contacted a small dip. The pilot stated that airplane then bounced and started to porpoise. During one of the bounces, the tailwheel contacted another small dip, after which the tail of airplane raised and the propeller contacted the ground resulting in a nose over. The airplane came to rest inverted and sustained substantial damage to the spar, fuselage, and rudder. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,523.4 hours in all; 361.6 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 26, 2025
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2026
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85 (piston); 2,220 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FIG Clearfield PA at 8:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from KFIG, 30 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFIG 072054Z AUTO 34012G17KT 10SM SCT065 26/12 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP139 T02610122 55000=
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 ERA26LA245.