Accident Overview
On March 14, 2009, at 1238 central daylight time, a Taylorcraft Corporation F19, registration N3937T, was substantially damaged when it crashed into the frozen surface of Lake Vermillion, Minnesota. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight and was not operating on a flight plan. The intended destination was Cook Municipal Airport in Cook, Minnesota.
Pilot and Witness Accounts
The pilot reported no memory of the accident but stated that he had kept the airplane in ground effect until reaching climb out speed. A witness observed the airplane lift off during takeoff and maintain a low altitude above the ice. The airplane then rotated at a speed approximately near cruise speed and entered a "pretty steep climb." As it climbed to an altitude of about 300–400 feet above ground level, its speed decreased and it did not level off. The airplane began to spin, and the spin continued until impact with the ice.
Aircraft Examination and Certification
Post-accident examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The Taylorcraft F19 received certification approval on July 3, 1973, under Civil Air Regulation (CAR) Part 3 and Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 23. The stall certification standards applied under CAR 3 amendment 3-4, which required a "clear and distinct stall warning." FAR 23.207 also requires that stall warning be provided either through inherent aerodynamic qualities or by a device giving clearly distinguishable indications. N3937T was not equipped with a stall warning system, and no known stall warning kits are available for Taylorcraft airplanes.
Conclusion
The accident sequence involved a steep climb and subsequent spin following takeoff from the frozen lake surface. No probable cause was determined by the investigation.