20250809013629A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Taylorcraft BC12-D · Ozark, AR · August 9, 2025

Date: August 9, 2025 · 10:35 local
Place: Ozark, AR
Airport: Byrd'S Backcountry Airstrip
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N95356
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN25LA312
Reported as: Taylorcraft BC12-D
Reported engine: Continental A&C65 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Private pilot, student
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,713 total2,000 in this make and model50 in the last 90 days

N95356Registered now · Taylorcraft BC12-DS/N 9756 Airframe modelTaylorcraft BC12-D Engine modelContinental A&C65 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On August 9, 2025, the airman involved in the accident was conducting an approach to the grass landing strip at byrd’s Backcountry Airstrip in Ozark, AR. Visual meteorological conditions and calm winds prevailed during the time of the accident. The airman was flying the 2nd of 3 aircraft that were flying to reposition from the western grass landing strip to the eastern grass landing strip. While turning right base to set up for the approach to the eastern grass strip, the airman was watching the aircraft in front of him to maintain separation between the two aircraft. The airman became fixated on the aircraft in front of him. Shortly after, the aircraft’s right wing impacted trees near the approach end of the grass strip. During the crash sequence, the aircraft entered the trees and came to rest on its right side, facing 180 degrees opposite the direction of travel, with the right wing separated from the fuselage.

As the FAA filed it

ON AUGUST 9, 2025, THE AIRMAN INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WAS CONDUCTING AN APPROACH TO THE GRASS LANDING STRIP AT BYRD’S BACKCOUNTRY AIRSTRIP IN OZARK, AR. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND CALM WINDS PREVAILED DURING THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRMAN WAS FLYING THE 2ND OF 3 AIRCRAFT THAT WERE FLYING TO REPOSITION FROM THE WESTERN GRASS LANDING STRIP TO THE EASTERN GRASS LANDING STRIP. WHILE TURNING RIGHT BASE TO SET UP FOR THE APPROACH TO THE EASTERN GRASS STRIP, THE AIRMAN WAS WATCHING THE AIRCRAFT IN FRONT OF HIM TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION BETWEEN THE TWO AIRCRAFT. THE AIRMAN BECAME FIXATED ON THE AIRCRAFT IN FRONT OF HIM. SHORTLY AFTER, THE AIRCRAFT’S RIGHT WING IMPACTED TREES NEAR THE APPROACH END OF THE GRASS STRIP. DURING THE CRASH SEQUENCE, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE TREES AND CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE, FACING 180 DEGREES OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, WITH THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN25LA312Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportOzark, ARThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree which resulted in the right wing impacting the tree and a subsequent collision with trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to operate the airplane at a low altitude over…Aug 9, 2025 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N95356 · 1

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

Accident 20170907017689ALanding: Rollout · Redgranite, WIOn September 7, 2017, at 1750 CST the pilot of a Taylorcraft BC12-D, N95356 attempted a landing on a private grass strip near Redgranite WI. The aircraft touched down performing a wheel landing, when the tail touched down the aircraft uncontrollably veered to…Sep 7, 2017 · Substantial damage