Taylorcraft DCO-65 accident near Charleston, West Virginia, June 21, 1997
On June 21, 1997 at about 11:00 am local time, a Taylorcraft DCO-65, registered N47282, was substantially damaged in an accident near Charleston, West Virginia (Mallory 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for unfavorable (variable) wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. The wind condition and proximity of a hangar were related factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1997 · about 11:00 am local time
- Place
- Charleston, West Virginia · Mallory · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft DCO-65 · all DCO-65s on the register
- Registration
- N47282 · registry record · serial L-5182
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on a local personal flight and returned for landing. During the approach, the pilot performed a left slip to accelerate the descent and align with the runway. The airplane touched down with sideward movement and the left wingtip struck the ground. The airplane pulled to the left, and the pilot corrected with an application of right rudder. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and collided with a hangar.
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: 210 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 160 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 1997; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A&C75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WV12 at 10:50 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,000 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from CRW, 7 miles away
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.