Taylorcraft DCO-65 accident near Abilene, Texas, August 19, 1995
On August 19, 1995 at about 2:02 pm local time, a Taylorcraft DCO-65, registered N57527, was substantially damaged in an accident near Abilene, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT STALL AS RESULT OF AN ABRUPT MANEUVER. A FACTOR WAS THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1995 · about 2:02 pm local time
- Place
- Abilene, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft DCO-65 · all DCO-65s on the register
- Registration
- N57527 · registry record · serial 5856
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE CIRCLED THE AIRPORT IN A LOOSE FORMATION WITH TWO OTHER WWII VINTAGE AIRPLANES. THE FLIGHT OF THREE HAD COMPLETED A LOW PASS OVER RUNWAY 17 AS PART OF AN ANNUAL FLY-IN AND OPEN HOUSE HOSTED BY THE AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN HE ADDED POWER TO INITIATE A CLIMB FOLLOWING THE LOW PASS. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE PITCH UP TO CLEAR WIRES ACROSS THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT PATH. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY OBSERVED DESCENDING IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE INTO A METAL BUILDING, COMING TO REST ON THE ROOF. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL ENGINE 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 353 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 260 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6F4 at 1:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:32 pm from ABI, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 FTW95LA351.