# NTSB CEN25LA312: Taylorcraft BC12, N95356, Ozark, AR, August 9, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 9, 2025, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Ozark, AR · Near 51AR. - Coordinates: 35.680217, -93.724109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6802&lon=-93.7241&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Little Rock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200745 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA312 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200745/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200745 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA312 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree which resulted in the right wing impacting the tree and a subsequent collision with trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to operate the airplane at a low altitude over trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); 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) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); 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) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 base: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane departed from the backcountry airstrip, located in a national forest, with the intent of repositioning to another nearby backcountry airstrip by a river. Both privately-owned backcountry airstrips are located on the same property. While on the downwind leg, the pilot performed a turn to establish himself on the base leg. During the turn, the right wing impacted a standing dead tree with no leaves. The airplane came to rest on its right side in a forested area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot noted that the accident could have been prevented by operating at a higher altitude and paying more attention to the airplane’s proximity to the trees in the area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N95356](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N95356), registered now, S/N 9756 (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: 09756 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 1589 - Engines: Continental Motors A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2024, 100 hours before - Departed: 51AR, Ozark, AR - Destination: 51AR, Ozark, AR - Airport: 51AR, Byrds Backcountry Airstrip, runway 07/25, 2,500 × 30 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 27, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,713 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 2,662 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KFYV, 29 nm away - METAR: KFYV 091353Z 18009KT 10SM CLR 28/22 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP150 T02830217 ## 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 20250809013629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250809013629A), Aug 9, 2025: Taylorcraft BC12-D, Ozark, AR, Substantial damage. On August 9, 2025, the airman involved in the accident was conducting an approach to the grass landing strip at byrd’s Backcountry Airstrip in Ozark, AR.… ## Other investigations on N95356 (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 GAA17CA523](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA523), Sep 7, 2017: Taylorcraft BC12 (N95356), Redgranite, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200745. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19274911&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA312%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19275581&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19275139&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Byrd's adventure center - backcountry airstrip information (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 275 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19291158&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=51AR%20-%20Information-Rel.pdf - U.S. Forest service - snag article (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 579 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19275739&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=USFS%20-%20Snag%20Article_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.