# NTSB CEN23LA240: Taylorcraft BC-65, N23679, Sibley, IA, June 15, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 15, 2023, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Sibley, IA
- Coordinates: 43.36472, -95.759601 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3647&lon=-95.7596&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192373
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA240
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192373/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192373
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA240

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed on final approach resulting in the airplane inadvertently exceeding the critical angle of attack and entering an inadvertent aerodynamic stall.

## 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 BC-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8850306), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=8850306), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=8850306), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/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: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=8850306), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8850306), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8850306), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during an extended final approach, the “bottom fell out” and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall. The pilot was unable to recover before the airplane touched down short of the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed during the hard landing, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23679](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23679), registered now, S/N 1413, built 1939 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC-65
- Registry model: [Taylorcraft BC-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc-65) (registry code 8850306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1413
- Year built: 1939
- Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2023
- Departed: OTG, Worthington, MN
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: ISB, Sibley, runway 17/35, 3,000 × 50 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review April 10, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 511 total, 423 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observed at: KSHL, 10 nm away
- METAR: METAR KSHL 151635Z AUTO 24005KT 10SM CLR 29/11 A2975 RMK AO2=

## 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 20230615009669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230615009669A), Jun 15, 2023: Taylorcraft BC-65, Sibley, IA, Substantial damage. Accident took place on approach to landing runway 35 @kisb. Aircraft stalled and made initial contact in edge of cornfield and came to rest in hayfield…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192373. 4.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15806413&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 546 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15807325&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� FAA email (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15807111&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Email%20MOR-Rel.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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