- Date
- June 5, 2009, 20:00 local (Jun 6, 2009, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Murray, IA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N43524Taylorcraft BC12-D
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 10, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20090606014859A
- Case key
- 73992
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
In his written statement the pilot wrote that he has no recollection of the events on the day of the accident. During a telephone interview he stated that he and the passenger went flying to survey farm land and cattle. He stated that they were flying at an altitude of 1,000 feet and would descend to 500 feet to look at fences. The only recollection the passenger has is that they circled his house a couple times then turned to the west. The accident occurred approximately 600 feet west of the passenger’s property. One witness reported that the airplane made several turns then headed west at an altitude of about 75 feet above the ground prior to it veering right and descending to the ground. Another witness reported the airplane flew right over her car prior to flying back and forth over a field. She stated that the airplane then made a “nose dive straight into the ground.” The airplane impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude. Inspection of the wreckage failed to reveal any preimpact failure or malfunction.
Factual narrative
In his written statement the pilot wrote that he has no recollection of the events on the day of the accident. During a telephone interview he stated that he and the passenger went flying to survey farm land and cattle. He stated they were flying at an altitude of 1,000 feet and would descend to 500 feet to look at fences. The only recall the passenger has is that they circled his house a couple times then turned to the west. The accident occurred approximately 600 feet west of the passenger’s property. One witness reported the airplane made several turns then headed west at an altitude of about 75 feet above the ground prior to it veering right and descending to the ground. Another witness reported the airplane flew right over her car prior to flying back and forth over a field. She stated the airplane then made a “nose dive straight into the ground.” The airplane impacted the ground in a nose down attitude. Inspection of the wreckage failed to reveal any preimpact failure/malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N43524
- Reported as
- Taylorcraft BC12-D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7183
- Engine
- Cont Motor A&C65 SERIES, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Kmh Enterprise LLC
- Registered owner
- Kmh Enterprise LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Afton, IA
- Destination
- Afton, IA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 1, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,200 total · 120 in this make and model · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- DSM, 36 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 10, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 690 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.