# NTSB ANC21LA023: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N43300, Palmer, AK, March 4, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 3, 2021, 17:30 local (Mar 4, 2021, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.233417, -147.85021 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2334&lon=-147.8502&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102737
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102737/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA023

## Probable cause

The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for taxi, which resulted in the airplane encountering a crevasse.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while departing from the off-airport snow-covered glacier, he was not comfortable with the acceleration of the tailwheel-ski-equipped airplane and aborted the takeoff. He then began a back taxi and allowed the airplane to make a wide radius turn. Subsequently, during the turn the airplane dropped vertically into an unseen crevasse. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wing lift struts. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43300](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43300), registered now, S/N 6959, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC12-D
- Registry model: [Taylorcraft BC12-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc12-d) (registry code 8850316) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6959
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 4163.3
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 2020
- Departed: AQY, Girdwood, AK
- Destination: Bryn Mawr Glac., AK
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,500 total, 550 in this make and model, 5,400 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 29.58 inHg
- Observed at: PAAQ, 48 nm away
- METAR: PAAQ 040053Z 00000KT 10SM CLR M07/M13 A2955 RMK AO2 SLP012 T10721128

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20210303001119I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210303001119I), Mar 3, 2021: Taylorcraft BC12-D, Girdwood, AK, Minor damage. Pilot was conducting ski operations on harvard glacier. The pilot had conducted operations successfully number of times at this location, the most recent was…

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.