Taylorcraft F19 accident near Northampton, Massachusetts, March 19, 2005
On March 19, 2005 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Taylorcraft F19, registered N3679T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Northampton, Massachusetts (Northampton 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
The pilot/owner's improper decision to conduct the flight with a known deficiency in equipment, which resulted in a loss of control when the tailwheel springs became disconnected. Factors were the disconnection of the tailwheel springs, the snow bank, and operataion with known deficiencies in equipment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 2005 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Northampton, Massachusetts · Northampton Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft F19
- Registration
- N3679T · registry record · serial F-079
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing roll, while the pilot/owner was turning the airplane to exit the runway, it departed the runway and impacted a snow bank. Both pilots onboard reported that the tailwheel springs had become disconnected. According to the pilot/owner, the springs had also become disconnected during a previous flight, and the airplane departed the runway. A flight instructor, who had flown with the pilot/owner during that flight, stated that he advised the pilot/owner that he would not fly the airplane again until the pilot/owner had addressed the problem with the tailwheel springs.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 390 hours in all; 15 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,786 hours in all; 570 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 1,722 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 25, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 2004; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7B2 Northampton MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,365 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from CEF, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.