Taylorcraft Aviation CORP. F21 accident near Payette, Idaho, May 28, 2018
On May 28, 2018 at about 4:53 pm local time, a 1980 Taylorcraft Aviation CORP. F21, registered N2004U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Payette, Idaho (Payette Muni airport). 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind and his subsequent failure to maintain airspeed during an aborted landing, which resulted in a collision with terrain and nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2018 · about 4:53 pm local time
- Place
- Payette, Idaho · Payette Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft Aviation CORP. F21 UNDESIGNAT, built 1980
- Registration
- N2004U · registry record · serial F-1006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he had completed a cross-country flight and aborted the first landing due to crosswind gusts from the left. He also aborted the second landing, but on his third approach about 60 knots, he committed to the landing. Just before touching down, the airplane encountered a left crosswind gust and then touched down oriented 10° left of the runway heading and bounced. The airplane veered right and exited the right side of the runway. He added full power and aborted the landing, but the airspeed was too slow. The airplane remained airborne for 150 ft, landed in a dirt field, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and windscreen. The student reported that, at the time of the accident, "winds were out of the NW at approximately 11 mph (as indicated by my Garmin Pilot app) with a 6 mph crosswind from the West and gusting." The airplane landed on runway 31. The nearest METAR, which was 6 miles southwest of the accident site, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 300° at 10 knots. The student reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with 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
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 37 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 570 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 570 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S75 Payette ID at 3:53 pm
- Destination: S75 Payette ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KONO, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.