# NTSB ANC05LA118: Taylorcraft BC12D-85, N5616M, Wasilla, AK, August 9, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 2005, 19:30 local (Aug 9, 2005, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Coordinates: 61.633335, -149.53334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6333&lon=-149.5333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 62255 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62255/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA118 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for an unknown reason while maneuvering, which precipitated an emergency descent and landing, and resulted in an in-flight collision with power lines and trees. A factor associated with the accident was the power lines. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a local personal flight, when the engine lost all power and he was forced to make an emergency landing. In his written statement to the NTSB, he indicated he performed a cruise descent from 2,100 feet to 700 feet above mean sea level (msl) with the carburetor heat on. After a short time at 700 feet he applied full power to gain altitude, and about 900 feet msl, the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine without success. During an emergency landing to a dirt road, the airplane collided with unmarked electrical wires, which redirected the airplane into the trees along the dirt road, resulting in structural damage to the wings and fuselage. An examination of the airplane at the accident site by the NTSB revealed fuel in the carburetor and in the airplane's fuel tank. During an operational test run of the airplane's engine, the engine was started and ran at various power settings. The carburetor was removed and evaluated on a flow test stand. No mechanical anomalies were found with the engine or carburetor. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2005, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12D-85 airplane, N5616M, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing following a total loss of engine power, about 5 miles northwest of Wasilla, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) local personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot and sole passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Willow Airport, Willow, Alaska, about 2000. During a conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 8, an Alaska State Trooper, who interviewed the pilot at the scene, said the pilot said he was cruising about 900 feet agl when the engine started to lose power. The Trooper indicated the pilot reported that as he applied full power the engine quit, and when he was unable to restart the engine, he attempted an emergency landing on a road. During the landing the airplane collided with unmarked power lines and impacted trees, receiving structural damage to both wings and the fuselage. In a written statement to the NTSB, dated September 8, the pilot indicated he performed a cruise descent from 2,100 feet to 700 feet above mean sea level (msl) with the carburetor heat on. He wrote that after a short time at 700 feet, he applied full power to gain altitude for the flight home. He said about 900 feet msl, the airplane's engine quit. He wrote that he attempted to restart the engine without success. During an emergency landing to a dirt road, the airplane struck unmarked electrical wires, which redirected the airplane into the trees along the dirt road. During an examination of the airplane at the accident site by the NTSB IIC on August 8, fuel was found in the carburetor and in the airplane's fuel tank. On August 18, under the direction of the NTSB IIC, an FAA aviation safety inspector performed an operational test run of the airplane's engine. The engine was started and run at various power settings. The carburetor was removed and evaluated on a flow test stand. No mechanical anomalies were found with the engine or carburetor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5616M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5616M-2013-08-20), registration cancelled 2013-08-20, S/N 12016, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft BC12D-85 - Registry model: [Universal TAYLORCRAFT BC12D-85](https://openairdocs.org/model/universal-taylorcraft-bc12d-85) (registry code 9230924) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12016 - Airframe hours: 2302 - Engines: Continental C85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Darrell Lindgren - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2005 - Departed: PAUO, Willow, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 140 total, 50 in this make and model, 70 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050809018249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050809018249A), Aug 9, 2005: Tcraft BC12D85, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The private pilot rated airman and his son were on a pleasure flight near pitman road about 10 miles west of Wasilla Alaska. The pilot decided to descend… ## Other investigations on N5616M (2) 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 ANC81DAG05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81DAG05), Sep 27, 1980: Taylorcraft BC12-D (N5616M), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB MKC77FER19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC77FER19), Feb 10, 1977: Taylorcraft BC12-D (N5616M), Wyoming, MN, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.