Taylorcraft DCO-65 accident near Antioch, California, June 1, 1991
On June 1, 1991 at about 8:09 pm local time, a Taylorcraft DCO-65, registered N49173, was substantially damaged in an accident near Antioch, California (Roddy Ranch 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
THAT THE PILOT'S PREFLIGHT WAS IMPROPER; THAT HE DEPARTED WITH THE CARBURETOR HEAT ON; FAILED TO ABORT WHEN IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE OFF; AND ABRUPTLY LIFTING THE AIRPLANE SO THAT IT BECAME AIRBORNE IN GROUND EFFECT, BUT THEN STALLED AND SETTLED INTO THE TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1991 · about 8:09 pm local time
- Place
- Antioch, California · Roddy Ranch · 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
- N49173 · registry record · serial 5220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO DEPART THE 1300 FOOT RUNWAY AND THE ENGINE WAS NOT DEVELOPING FULL POWER. THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY LEFT THE CARB HEAT ON. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY THE PILOT ABRUPTLY PULLED THE CONTROL STICK EFFECTING A LIFT-OFF IN GROUND EFFECT. WHEN THE AIRPLANE ATTAINED AN ALTITUDE ABOVE GROUND EFFECT IT STALLED AND SETTLED INTO THE TREES AND INJURED AN INDIVIDUAL ON THE GROUND AS THE AIRCRAFT PASSED OVER HIM.
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: 562 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 1,300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:45 pm from CCR, 18 miles away
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.