# Accident 20231223019069A: Taylorcraft BC12-D, Whitefish, MT, December 23, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 23, 2023, 08:25 local time
- Place: Whitefish, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.4080° N, 114.2996° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4080&lon=-114.2996&mi=10
- Aircraft: N43415, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43415) (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: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 800 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA069) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231223019069A

## Narrative

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

ON DECEMBER 23, 2023 THE PILOT WAS LANDING AT 58S.  PRIOR TO FLIGHT THE PILOT CHECKED LOCAL NOTAMS AND NOTICED THAT 58S HAD BEEN CLOSED, HOWEVER THE NOTAM EXPIRED ON DECEMBER 18, 2023.  THE PILOT ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO MAKE A LANDING ON RUNWAY 11.  RUNWAY 11 REQUIRES A SLIGHTLY STEEPER THAN NORMAL APPROACH DUE TO OBSTACLES.  THE PILOT STATED HE HAS LANDED HUNDREDS OF TIMES AT THIS AIRPORT AND IS EXTREMELY FAMILIAR WITH LANDING RUNWAY 11.  THE PILOT STATED HE WAS FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY WHEN THE AIRPLANE STRUCK AN OBJECT AND FLIPPED OVER.  THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRPLANE AND OBSERVED A YELLOW METAL FENCE THAT HAD BEEN PLACED IN THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD.  THE PILOT STATED THAT GIVEN THE APPROACH ANGLE, HE BELIEVES THE FENCE WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE APPROACH.

## 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 WPR24LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA069), Dec 23, 2023: Taylorcraft BC12-D (N43415), Whitefish, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the airport authorities to renew the airport closure NOTAM for the airport. Contributing to the accident, was the pilot’s inability to see the runway closure sign.

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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