# NTSB CEN24LA341: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N95078, Trojan, SD, September 7, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 7, 2024, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Trojan, SD - Coordinates: 44.34652, -103.8245 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3465&lon=-103.8245&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Rapid City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195074 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA341 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195074/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195074 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA341 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power due to a loose magneto and subsequent impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: magneto/distributor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inadequate inspection; cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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 pilot reported that while enroute the engine sustained a partial loss of power. The pilot attempted to restore engine power by applying carburetor heat, adjusting the mixture, and checking the fuel control valve. The pilot’s troubleshooting efforts were unsuccessful, and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot descended into a wooded valley and conducted a forced landing into the treetops. The airplane came to rest inverted and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the hold-down nuts on the right magneto were loose, and the magneto could rotate freely by hand. It is likely that the loose magneto detrimentally affected ignition, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On September 7, 2024, about 1030, mountain daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D airplane, N95078, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Trojan, South Dakota. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that while enroute the engine sustained a partial loss of power. The pilot attempted to restore engine power by applying carburetor heat, adjusting the mixture, and checking the fuel control valve. The pilot’s troubleshooting efforts were unsuccessful, and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot descended into a wooded valley and conducted a forced landing into the treetops. The airplane came to rest inverted and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the hold-down nuts on the right magneto were loose, and the magneto could rotate freely by hand. A lead deposit was noted in the No. 1 cylinder top spark plug; however, it was not found to inhibit the function of the spark plug. No other preimpact mechanical malfunctions were identified. A review of the airplane maintenance logbooks revealed that the last 100-hour inspection of the engine occurred on October 6, 2023. The logbooks stated that during this inspection, the magnetos were timed, and the spark plugs were cleaned and gapped. The last annual inspection was on September 1, 2024, six days before the accident. According to the mechanic who conducted the last annual inspection, the ignition timing was checked, but he did not recall if he had adjusted the magnetos. He also stated that the airplane had operated about 5 to 10 hours between the completion of the last annual inspection and the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N95078](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N95078), registered now, S/N 9478, 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: 9478 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 3883 - Engines: Continental A-75-8 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lattin Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2024 - Departed: Rapid City, SD - Destination: Hulett, SD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 7, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 705 total, 56 in this make and model, 565 as pilot in command, 256 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KSPF, 8 nm away - METAR: KSPF 071635Z AUTO 04008KT 10SM CLR 22/12 A3019 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 20240907012989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240907012989A), Sep 7, 2024: Taylorcraft BC12-D, Lead, SD, Substantial damage. On September 7, 2024 at 10:30AM a Taylorcraft BC12D registered to [privacy data omitted] was in an accident during normal personal flight. VMC conditions… ## Other investigations on N95078 (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA82DA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA82DA028), Feb 6, 1982: Taylorcraft BC12-D (N95078), Medford, OR, substantial damage ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 14, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195074. 226 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 164 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18629308&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_N95078_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18629114&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Examination summary (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 476 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18630630&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Exam%20Summary%20CEN24LA341-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 60.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18629338&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Log%20Entries_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18685558&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Lattin-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� mechanic (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18684628&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Lattin%20Travis-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18629328&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20N95078_Redacted-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. --- 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.