Taylorcraft DCO-65 accident near Sherman, Texas, January 10, 2000
On January 10, 2000 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Taylorcraft DCO-65, registered N48634, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sherman, Texas (Flying M airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A jammed carburetor needle which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent hard forced landing after takeoff. Contributing factors were the fence, trees, and pilot's maneuver to avoid these objects.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 2000 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sherman, Texas · Flying M · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft DCO-65 · all DCO-65s on the register
- Registration
- N48634 · registry record · serial 5844
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he departed the private grass airstrip to the south and was turning left crosswind, climbing through 150 feet agl, when the engine lost total power. He attempted to restart the engine, but was not successful. He initiated a forced landing, during which the airplane landed 'hard' as he was maneuvering to avoid a fence and trees. Upon touchdown, the gear collapsed and the airplane slid approximately 100 feet, coming to a stop upright. The pilot disassembled the Stromberg NAS-3A carburetor and observed that the 'needle was stuck in the closed position.' The float and needle were removed and he observed 'scoring wear inside of the needle guide.' He added that 'it took considerable force to free [the needle].'
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: 2,575 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,575 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,118 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 23, 1999; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,325 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,375 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.