# NTSB CEN15CA356: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N95592, Pearland, TX, August 12, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 12, 2015, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Pearland, TX - Coordinates: 29.521389, -95.242225 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5214&lon=-95.2422&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 17, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91771 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA356 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91771/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91771 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA356 ## Probable cause The student pilot inadvertently shut off the fuel valve while on the downwind leg, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and a forced landing short of the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [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) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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 downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, after crossing abeam the runway touchdown zone, he inadvertently shut off the fuel valve instead of activating the carburetor heat. Unaware of his mistake, the pilot continued on the landing approach believing the engine was operating at a reduced power setting. The pilot reported that after maneuvering the airplane onto final approach, he realized that the airplane was lower than normal and attempted to increase engine power. After the engine did not respond to his throttle movements, the pilot noticed that the carburetor heat control was not turned on. Believing the engine was experiencing carburetor icing, the pilot activated the carburetor heat. Still without any response from the engine, the pilot completed a forced landing short of the intended runway. The airplane collided with two trees during the forced landing, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. While securing the airplane after the accident, the pilot realized that he had inadvertently shut off the fuel valve while on the downwind leg instead of activating the carburetor heat. He stated that the two systems had similar push/pull control knobs that were positioned next to each other in the cockpit. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, after crossing abeam the runway touchdown zone, he inadvertently shut off the fuel valve instead of activating the carburetor heat. Unaware of his mistake, the pilot continued on the landing approach believing the engine was operating at a reduced power setting. The pilot reported that after maneuvering the airplane onto final approach, he realized that the airplane was lower than normal and attempted to increase engine power. After the engine did not respond to his throttle movements, the pilot noticed that the carburetor heat control was not turned on. Believing the engine was experiencing carburetor icing, the pilot activated the carburetor heat. Still without any response from the engine, the pilot completed a forced landing short of the intended runway. The airplane collided with two trees during the forced landing, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. While securing the airplane after the accident, the pilot realized that he had inadvertently shut off the fuel valve while on the downwind leg instead of activating the carburetor heat. He stated that the two systems had similar push/pull control knobs that were positioned next to each other in the cockpit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N95592](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N95592-2018-06-04), registration cancelled 2018-06-04, S/N 7892, 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: 7892 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 1783.5 - Engines: Continental A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 2015, 6 hours before - Departed: AXH, Arcola, TX - Destination: LVJ, Pearland, TX - Airport: LVJ, Pearland Regional Airport, runway 32, 4,313 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 85 total, 32 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: LVJ ## 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 20150812013259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150812013259A), Aug 12, 2015: Taylorcraft BC12-D, Pearland, TX, Substantial damage. While on final for runway 32 at Pearland Regional Airport student pilot while flying solo inadvertently retarded the mixture lever instead of the throttle… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 2, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91771. 904 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 820 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434400&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation (Gregory Carrier) (item 2, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434401&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Gregory%20Carrier)-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.