# Accident 19980911023739A: Tcraft BC12D, Big Lake, AK, September 11, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 11, 1998, 15:30 local time
- Place: Big Lake, AK
- Airport: Big Lake Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.4592° N, 150.0896° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4592&lon=-150.0896&mi=10
- Aircraft: N43140, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Taylorcraft BC12-D (registry code 8850316, https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc12-d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TCRAFT BC12D
- Reported engine: CONT C858F
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA147) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980911023739A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT CRASHED ON TAKEOFF AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. (.4) THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS IN A FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT DURING THE LANDING APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE DEVELOPED A SINK RATE THAT 'FELT MUSHY.'  THE PILOT ADDED ENGINE POWER AND ALIGNED THE AIRPLANE WITH THE WATER.  THE RIGHT WING DROPPED, AND THE TIP OF THE RIGHT FLOAT DUG INTO THE WATER. THE RIGHT FLOAT ASSEMBLY WAS TORN OFF THE FUSELAGE, AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE WATER. THE AIRPLANE THEN SANK.                                                                       (-23) ON LANDING, AIRCRAFT TIPPED, RIGHT FLOAT TOUCHED WATER FIRST AND WAS TORN OFF. AIRCRAFT SANK IN 30 FEET OF WATER. THE PILOT REPORTED, DURING INTERVIEW ON 09/17/98, THAT HE WAS MOVING THE AIRCRAFT, FOR THE OWNER, TO OBTAIN ROUTINE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE. ALSO, HE REPORTED THAT WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNDER WATER, THE BOX THAT CONTAINED THE LOG BOOKS FLOATED AWAY AND IS STILL IN THE LAKE SOMEWHERE. ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE LOST. THE OWNER IS VECTORED SERVICES ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC98LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA147), Sep 11, 1998: Taylorcraft BC12D (N43140), Big Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent stall/mush.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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