Avions Fairey TIPSY NIPPER T-66 N1959N

Summary

On 14 February 2013 at about 00:15 local time, a Avions Fairey TIPSY NIPPER T-66 registered N1959N, operated by Sharman Enterprises Inc, was involved in an accident near Winters, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 February 2013 at 00:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Winters, California, United States

Coordinates

38.4967, -121.9494

Aircraft

Avions Fairey TIPSY NIPPER T-66

Registration

N1959N

Category

Airplane

Year built

1959

Engines

1

Operator

Sharman Enterprises Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Davis/Winters → Vacaville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13FA123

1 person died.

The airplane's impact with a turkey vulture in cruise flight, which resulted in the structural failure of the right wing and the subsequent loss of control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was in cruise flight about 2,000 feet above the ground when several witnesses reported hearing a loud "crack," "pop," or "snap" sound and then looking up and seeing something separate from the airplane and then pieces falling to the ground. The outboard 4 feet of the right wing was found about 2,000 feet away from the main wreckage, and a turkey vulture carcass was found near the wing section. Postaccident examinations of the wing section revealed blood spots and a downy barbule, which was identified as a fragment of a turkey vulture feather.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.