# Accident 20180904013119A: Taylorcraft BC12-D, Cut Bank, MT, September 4, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 4, 2018, 19:05 local time
- Place: Cut Bank, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.6597° N, 112.4961° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6597&lon=-112.4961&mi=10
- Aircraft: N95514, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N95514) (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: TAYLORCRAFT BC12-D
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 62 total, 16 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA533](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA533) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180904013119A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LOW ALTITUDE TURN IN A REMOTE AREA NEAR A HOME WHEN THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A POWER/TELEPHONE WIRE. THIS RESULTED IN A CRASH LANDING THAT CREATED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT, MINOR INJURIES TO THE PILOT AND PASSENGER AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY ON THE GROUND (THE TELEPHONE/POWER LINE).

PILOT'S STATEMENT:

I MADE A RIGHT CIRCLE AROUND MY NEIGHBOR'S YARD, TO LAND ON MY FARM.    WITH THE  SUN SHINING IN MY EYES AND THE GLARE FROM THE PROPELLER, I  LOST SIGHT OF THE POWER LINE. MY MISTAKE OF USING MY JUDGEMENT OF THE  HEIGHT OF THE BUILDINGS, THINKING I WAS HIGH ENOUGH TO CLEAR  ALL OBSTACLES INSTEAD OF VERIFYING WITH MY ALTIMETER OF MY  ACTUAL ALTITUDE, LED ME COMING IN TOO LOW AND MADE CONTACT  WITH THE POWER LINE WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL AND  CRASH LAND IT. THEN WE WALKED AWAY.

## 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 GAA18CA533](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA533), Sep 5, 2018: Taylorcraft BC12 (N95514), Cut Bank, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to see and avoid power wires while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to determine the airplane’s altitude due to sun glare.

## Other reports on N95514 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19730517012279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730517012279A), May 17, 1973: Tcraft BCS12D1 (N95514), Bellevue, WA, Substantial damage. Downwind gusting to 15K. Turning off rwy onto taxiway. Plt stated r brake was sticking.

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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