# NTSB CEN13LA567: Taylorcraft BC12 D, N96473, Laguna Park, TX, September 22, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 22, 2013, 12:35 local (17:35 UTC) - Place: Laguna Park, TX - Coordinates: 31.863332, -97.381111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8633&lon=-97.3811&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 14, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88158 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA567 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88158/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88158 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA567 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate flare during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and the subsequent collapse of the left main landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the airplane bounced on touchdown during a landing with a left crosswind and that the left main landing gear folded "up and out." The airplane subsequently sustained substantial damage when it exited the runway and impacted trees and a stump. It is likely that the pilot inadequately flared the airplane during landing, which resulted in the hard landing and the subsequent collapse of the left main landing gear. ## Factual narrative On September 22, 2013, about 1235 central daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12 D, N96473, had a left main landing gear collapse during landing on runway 15 at the Laguna-Not A-Park Airstrip (TX82), near Laguna Park, Texas. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial left wing damage when the airplane departed the runway and impacted a tree. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual flight rules conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a flight plan. The local flight originated from TX82 about 1100. The pilot stated that the airplane bounced on touchdown. The left main landing gear folded "up and out." The airplane subsequently turned to the left and impacted a patch of trees near the side of the runway. The left wing's spars were separated and its strut was bent. The lower fuselage tubing and fabric was damaged when the airplane impacted a stump. The pilot stated that the airplane had been involved in an incident and the "gear" was repaired a month before he bought the airplane. According to an airframe and power mechanic's statement and a major repair form, the airplane was damaged during a prior uncontrolled departure from runway 19 at the Burnet Municipal Airport-Kate Craddock Field, near Burnet, Texas. The airplane's owner requested the fixed base operator (FBO) inspect the airplane and repair it as required. Both left and right gears were visually inspected. Visual inspection of the left gear welded joints and attach points showed no damage. Damage to the right landing gear was repaired by the FBO as detailed in a Federal Aviation Administration Form 337 dated June 21, 2013. Weld repairs were completed by oxy-acetylene procedure and were inspected for return to service. At 1235, the recorded weather, about 47 degrees and 20 nautical miles from the accident site, at the Hillsboro Municipal Airport, near Hillsboro, Texas, was: Wind 050 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 25 degrees C; dew point 10 degrees C; altimeter 29.93 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96473](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N96473), registered now, S/N 8773, built 1946 (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: 8773 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 4358 - Engines: Continental A65-8 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 19, 2012 - Departed: TX82, Laguna Park, TX - Destination: TX82, Laguna Park, TX - Airport: TX82, Laguna-Not A-Park Airstrip, runway 15, 1,824 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review September 1, 2000; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 970 total, 50 in this make and model, 970 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KINJ, 20 nm away ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88158. 664 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 456 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Communication Summary (item 2, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411988&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Communication%20Summary-Master.PDF - FAA Form 337 Major Repair (item 3, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411989&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Form%20337%20Major%20Repair-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 4, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411990&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-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.