# NTSB CEN09LA467: Taylorcraft BF12, N36299, Sawyer, MI, July 25, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 25, 2009, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Sawyer, MI - Coordinates: 41.890834, -86.588333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8908&lon=-86.5883&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74384 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA467 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74384/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74384 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA467 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while taking off from a short, grass runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BF12-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=8850340), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BF12-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8850340), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Taylorcraft BF12-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=8850340), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BF12-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=8850340), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot attempted a takeoff on a 1,400-foot-long grass runway and during initial climb the airplane's climb "stagnated." The pilot lowered the nose to increase controllability and speed, but there was no apparent improvement. The airplane descended and impacted terrain, which collapsed the main landing gear and spun the airplane around. The airplane sustained damage to the wing spar and empennage. Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The takeoff weight, which was near the maximum gross weight of the airplane, the lack of a headwind, and the grass runway surface would have negatively affected the airplane's takeoff performance. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 2009, at 1230 eastern daylight time, a Taylorcraft BF12-65, N36299, owned and piloted by an airline transport pilot, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during an initial climb after takeoff from a southeast runway (1,400 feet by 60 feet, grass) at a private airstrip near Sawyer, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that a crosswind was present when he attempted a takeoff. He said that the airplane engine was producing takeoff power, and the airplane lifted off about 800 feet down the runway at 60 miles per hour. While climbing out at 65-70 mph and at 40-50 feet above ground level, the climb "stagnated." The pilot lowered the nose to increase "controllability and speed with no apparent improvement." The airplane descended and the pilot attempted a landing on a bean field. The airplane main landing gear collapsed when it impacted the ground and the airplane spun 180 degrees towards the right. In the pilot's initial statement to the Federal Aviation Administration, he stated that during the climb, the airplane nose pitched up, he pushed the nose down, and the airplane impacted the ground. Post accident examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the maximum gross weight of the airplane was 1,280 pounds and the airplane weight at the time of the accident was 1,238 pounds. The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses nor was it required to have a shoulder harness installation under the certification standards of the airplane when it was manufactured. The pilot and passenger sustained head injuries. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N36299](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36299-2009-11-16), registration cancelled 2009-11-16, S/N 3217, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BF12 (65) - Registry model: [Taylorcraft BF12-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bf12-65) (registry code 8850340) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3217 - Airframe hours: 4256 - Engines: Continental C85-12-F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 25, 2006 - Departed: PVT, Sawyer, MI - Destination: Unknown - Airport: PVT, Southwest Lakes Airpark ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 25, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 18,422 total, 11,396 as pilot in command, 155 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.63 inHg - Observed at: SAW ## 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 20090725049579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090725049579A), Jul 25, 2009: Taylorcraft BF12-65, Sawer, MI, Destroyed. During a telephone conversation pilot stated aircraft nose piched up after takeoff he pushed nose down then aircraft contacted ground. Aircaft was approx. 30… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 10, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74384. 10.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 481 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324935&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Information (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324936&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Runway (item 3, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324937&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20Runway-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Airplane (item 4, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324938&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20%20Airplane-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Airplane (item 5, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324939&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20%20Airplane-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Airplane (item 6, .PDF, 780 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20%20Airplane-Master.PDF - Photo 5. Airspeed Indicator (item 7, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324941&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20%20Airspeed%20Indicator-Master.PDF - Photo 6. Accident Site (item 8, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324942&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206.%20%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Photo 7. Ignition Harness (item 9, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207.%20%20Ignition%20Harness-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. --- 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.