# NTSB CEN09CA485: Taylorcraft BC12-65, N77FJ, Flushing, MI, July 31, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 31, 2009, 18:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Flushing, MI
- Coordinates: 43.052501, -83.804725 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0525&lon=-83.8047&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74431
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA485
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74431/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74431
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA485

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate descent rate and airspeed on final resulting in a hard landing.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-65, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8850310), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=8850310), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8850310), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he used a forward slip to lose altitude on final. He said that he was a "little slow" when he came out of the slip. He reported that the landing was a hard landing, the right main landing gear contacted first, and then the gear folded under the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he used a forward slip to lose altitude on final. He said that he was a "little slow" when he came out of the slip. He reported that the landing was a hard landing, the right main landing gear contacted first, and then the gear folded under the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N77FJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N77FJ), registered now, S/N 2808, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC12-65
- Registry model: [Taylorcraft BC12-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc12-65) (registry code 8850310) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2808
- Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 3DA, Flushing, MI
- Destination: 3DA, Flushing, MI
- Airport: 3DA, Dalton Airport, runway 27, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, unknown; flight hours: 80 total, 54 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: FNT

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74431. 727 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 727 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316926&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF

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.

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