# NTSB ANC99LA076: Taylorcraft BC-12, N43373, Cantwell, AK, June 13, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 12, 1999, 19:30 local (Jun 13, 1999, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Cantwell, AK - Coordinates: 63.009914, -149.400222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0099&lon=-149.4002&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 23, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46568 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46568/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA076 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - tundra - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The pilot was departing a private airport on the continuation of a cross-country flight. He reported the engine power began to decrease, varying from full power to almost none, and the application of carburetor heat produced no change. The engine was not running rough or sputtering, but was not producing enough power to climb above about 100 feet. He made a gentle bank to the left, gradually losing altitude, and made an emergency landing on soft, tundra-covered terrain about 3/4 mile southwest of the airport. During the landing, the landing gear was sheared off, the wing lift struts were bent, and the left wing was bent at the inboard end. The pilot said he always filtered his fuel through a chamois. Prior to his departure on the cross-country flight, he did not find any water in the fuel when he drained his fuel tanks. Following recovery of the airplane, it was inspected by an FAA airworthiness inspector. The inspector reported the carburetor control cables were attached, and operated normally. Fuel was present in the carburetor bowl, and in the lines to the carburetor. About four to five gallons of fuel were present in the header tank. Engine gear train continuity was established. The air filter was unobstructed. ## Factual narrative On June 12, 1999, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Taylorcraft BC-12 airplane, N43373, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after takeoff from the Summit Airport, a private airport located about six miles southwest of Cantwell, Alaska, about latitude 63 degrees, 19.89 minutes north, and longitude 149 degrees, 07.64 degrees west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight to the Lake Hood Strip, Anchorage, Alaska, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was the continuation of a cross-country flight that originated at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska, about 1800. During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 14, 1999, the pilot reported that when he departed Fairbanks, the airplane's engine was running fine. He landed at the Summit Airport for a rest. Upon departure from runway 21, the engine power began to decrease, varying from full power to almost none. His application of carburetor heat produced no change. He said the engine was not running rough or sputtering, but was not producing enough power to climb above about 100 feet. He made a gentle bank to the left, gradually losing altitude. He performed an emergency landing on soft, tundra-covered terrain about 3/4 mile southwest of the airport. During the landing, the landing gear was sheared off, the wing lift struts were bent, and the left wing was bent at the inboard end. In the Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) completed by the pilot, he indicated that he always filtered his fuel through a chamois. Prior to his departure from Fairbanks, he did not find any water in the fuel when he sumped his fuel tanks. Following the accident, the airplane was recovered and transported to a private residence in Big Lake, Alaska. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), inspected the airplane at the residence on July 1, 1999. The inspector reported the carburetor control cables were attached, and operated normally. Fuel was present in the carburetor bowl, and in the lines to the carburetor. About four to five gallons of fuel was present in the header tank. Engine gear train continuity was established. The air filter was unobstructed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43373](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43373-2002-06-26), registration cancelled 2002-06-26, S/N 7032, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft BC-12 - 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: 7032 - Airframe hours: 2080 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Karl D. Olson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 11, 1998, 40 hours before - Departed: UMM, SUMMIT, AK - Destination: Z41, ANCHORAGE, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: UMM, Summit, runway 21, 3,840 × 80 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 360 total, 120 in this make and model, 310 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °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 19990612007019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990612007019A), Jun 12, 1999: Tcraft BC12D, Summit, AK, Substantial damage. Acft made an emergency landing for unknown reasons and sustained substantial damage. (From .19) on June 12, 1999, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a wheel… 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.