# NTSB ATL98LA110: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N96175, Thomasville, GA, August 10, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 1998, 16:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Thomasville, GA - Coordinates: 30.830013, -83.970214 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8300&lon=-83.9702&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 19, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43647 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL98LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43647/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA110 ## Probable cause The pilot's poor in-flight decision to attempt a forced landing in a field 2 miles from an airport, leading to an on-ground collision with rough terrain. A factor was the pilot's physiological need. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Forced landing, landing - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) - physiological condition, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was 2.5 hours into a 4 hour flight when he felt an urgent need to relieve himself. The pilot stated he decided to land on a road in a cultivated field. The pilot stated after landing, he noticed a post on the left side of the road and maneuvered to miss the post. During this maneuver, the airplane became airborne, and when it touched down a second time, the landing gear collapsed. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot stated he had to relieve himself, so he decided to land on an access road because he didn't see the airport. The pilot then stated that he didn't have enough clearance on the road, and decided to land in the field. The FAA inspector also stated the field was approximately 1 to 2 miles south of Thomasville Municipal Airport. According to the FAA, the airplane touched down on the edge of the field, crossed the access road, and came to rest in another field. When crossing the road, the right main landing gear was sheared off. As the airplane continued to roll, the lower third of the rudder and two fuselage longerons were bent. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 1998, about 1640 eastern daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, N96175, made a forced landing in a field near Thomasville, Georgia. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight departed Ormond Beach, Florida at 1410. According to the pilot, he was 2.5 hours into a 4-hour flight when he felt an urgent need to relieve himself. The pilot was flying at 1000 feet when he decided to land on a west-east road in a cultivated field. The pilot stated after landing, he noticed a post on the left side of the road and maneuvered to miss the post. During this maneuver, the airplane became airborne, and when it touched down a second time, the landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest 20 feet north of the road. According to the FAA inspector, the airplane was unloaded prior to his arrival by the pilot and another individual who stated the airplane had two sleeping bags, two rolled foam mattresses, a tent, a backpack filled with pots and pans, a suitcase, canned food, two gallons of drinking water, a hunting rifle, fishing tackle, and two duffel bags filled with electronic equipment. A police officer reported the pilot stated he had to relieve himself, so he decided to land on an access road because he didn't see the airport. The pilot then stated he decided he didn't have enough clearance on the road, so he decided to land in the field. The FAA inspector also stated the field was approximately 1 to 2 miles south of Thomasville Municipal Airport. According to the FAA, the airplane touched down on the edge of the field, crossed the access road, and came to rest in another field. When crossing the road, the right main landing gear was sheared off. As the airplane continued to roll, the lower third of the rudder and two fuselage longerons were bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96175](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N96175), registered now, S/N 8475 (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: 8475 - Airframe hours: 1686 - Engines: Continental A65-12 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jan Spangler - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 1998, 4 hours before - Departed: OMN, ORMOND BEACH, FL - Destination: PIB, HATTIESBURG, MS - Airport: TVI, Thomasville Municipal A/P, runway 14, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,400 total, 2,100 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TLH, 30 nm away ## 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 19980810033449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980810033449A), Aug 10, 1998: Tcraft BC12D, Thomasville, GA, Substantial damage. On August 11, 1998, this inspector was notified by Mr. Frank murphy, of Thomasville, Georgia that an airplane had crash landed approximately 3 miles east of… 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.