Amateur-built Tango 2 accident near Williston, Florida, June 30, 2004
On June 30, 2004 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Tango 2, registered N56KC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williston, Florida (Williston Municipal airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during a high speed taxi test resulting in the airplane veering off the left side of the runway, becoming airborne, and nosing over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2004 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Williston, Florida · Williston Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Tango 2
- Registration
- N56KC · registry record · serial T018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he had just performed 2 high speed taxi runs; the first was to 40 knots and the second was up to 60 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). He planned on performing one more taxi run and when the airspeed was at 60 knots, he checked the engine rpm, then noted the airspeed was between 60-70 knots. The airplane then began drifting to the left and he reduced throttle and applied right rudder input. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and he added power and rotated the airplane to a nose high attitude. The airplane became airborne but was, "...wallowing in the air." The airplane descended, and contacted the ground in what he thought was a wing low attitude. He reduced power, and the airplane then nosed over. He exited the airplane with assistance from bystanders. He reported there was no preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction.
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: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X60 Williston FL at 2:45 pm
- Destination: X60 Williston FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.