# NTSB ANC99LA129: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N96921, Anchorage, AK, August 14, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 13, 1999, 19:00 local (Aug 14, 1999, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.160671, -149.990295 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1607&lon=-149.9903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 47325 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47325/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA129 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, and improper starting procedure. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, standing - starting engine(s) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - starting procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, standing - starting engine(s) - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot landed on a remote road next to a river to fish. While preparing to depart, he pulled the airplane onto the road and set the parking brake. The pilot said he turned the magnetos on, and bumped the throttle slightly open. He then spun the propeller by hand. The engine started, and the airplane began to move forward. Before the pilot could enter the airplane, it traveled about 150 feet, off the roadway, and into a ditch. The right wing struck several bushes, and the airplane received damage to both right wing lift struts. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 1999, about 1900 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Taylorcraft BC12-D airplane, N96921, sustained substantial damage while the pilot was starting the airplane, about 27 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska, at latitude 61 degrees, 16 minutes north, and longitude 150 degrees, 53.5 minutes west. The airplane was being started to begin a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot was not on board the airplane, and was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 3, 1999, the pilot reported he landed on a remote road, next to the Theodore River, to fish. While preparing to depart, he pulled the airplane onto the road and set the parking brake. The pilot said he turned the magnetos on, and bumped the throttle slightly open. He then spun the propeller by hand. The engine started, and the airplane began to move forward. Before the pilot could enter the airplane, it traveled about 150 feet, off the roadway, and into a ditch. The right wing struck several bushes, and the airplane received damage to both right wing lift struts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96921](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N96921), registered now, S/N 9221 (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: 9221 - Airframe hours: 4885 - Engines: Continental A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Philip J. Baldwin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 1999, 10 hours before - Destination: Z41, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,490 total, 11 in this make and model, 260 as pilot in command, 225 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 19990813026299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990813026299A), Aug 13, 1999: Tcraft BC12D, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (.19) On August 23, 1999, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Taylorcraft BC12-D airplane, N96921, sustained substantial damage while the pilot… 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.