Golden Circle Air T BIRD II N5619Z

Summary

On 17 December 2017 at about 19:30 local time, a Golden Circle Air T BIRD II registered N5619Z was involved in an accident near Wiscassett, Maine, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 December 2017 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Wiscassett, Maine, United States

Nearest airport

Wiscasset (IWI)

Coordinates

44.6936, -69.3813

Aircraft

Golden Circle Air T BIRD II

Registration

N5619Z

Category

Airplane

Year built

1996

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wiscassett → Wiscassett

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA105

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped, experimental airplane, the airplane bounced to the left side of the runway during the takeoff roll. He thought that the airplane would "straighten itself out"; however, the airplane's tail lifted, and the airplane continued to the left. The left main landing gear impacted a snowbank, and the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The airplane came to rest in the safety area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The METAR at the accident airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was variable at 4kts and the sky was clear. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.