# NTSB CHI01LA254: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N39971, Wall, SD, July 27, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 2001, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Wall, SD - Coordinates: 43.990779, -102.23027 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9908&lon=-102.2303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52907 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA254 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52907/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA254 ## Probable cause The student pilot failed to maintain a proper glidepath, failed to obtain proper climb rate, and executed the go-around improperly. Additional factors included the pilot's lack of experience, the crop, and the soft, wet ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - proper glidepath - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - improper, pilot in command (cause) - climb - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage during landing roll when it nosed over in a wheat field after attempting to land on a runway (3,500 feet by 60 feet), but impacted the terrain about 150 yards past the runway. The airplane nosed over in the soft, wet ground. The student solo pilot reported he planned on doing a "wheel landing" to the first 1/4 of the runway. He used an approach speed of 65 mph. He reported the airplane floated down the runway and when he saw the end of the runway coming up, he elected to do a "go around." He applied full power and the engine sounded normal. He reported the airplane "just would not climb," and that the airplane did not climb more than "16 feet off the ground." He reported, "The controls were not very effective when the right wing was up and then I crashed." The student pilot's total flight time was 38.6 hours, and all of it had been flown in the accident airplane. He reported he had used automobile gas in the airplane, although no Supplementary Type Certificate (STC) had been issued to the airplane for the use of auto gas. The pilot reported the engine was running smooth; it did not "cough" when full power was applied; and it did not have carburetor ice. The pilot reported the winds were calm and the temperature was 85 degrees F. The elevation at 6V4 is 2,810 feet. The density altitude was about 5,031 feet. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 2001, at 1730 central daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, N39971, sustained substantial damage during landing roll when it nosed over in a wheat field. The 14 CFR Part 91 student solo flight had departed from a private airstrip located at the pilot's ranch at 1715 en route to the Wall Municipal Airport (6V4), Wall, South Dakota. The student pilot attempted to land on runway 12 (3,500 feet by 60 feet), but impacted the terrain about 150 yards past the runway. The airplane nosed over in the soft, wet ground. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration Operations Inspector that he planned on doing a "wheel landing" to the first 1/4 of the runway. He used an approach speed of 65 mph. He reported the airplane floated down the runway and when he saw the end of the runway coming up, he elected to do a "go around." He applied full power. He reported the engine sounded normal, although he did not look at the tachometer. He reported the airplane "just would not climb," and that the airplane did not climb more than "16 feet off the ground." He reported, "The controls were not very effective when the right wing was up and then I crashed." The student pilot had purchased the airplane and started flying on June 1, 2001. The student pilot's total flight time was 38.6 hours, and all of it had been flown in the accident airplane. He reported he had used automobile gas in the airplane, although no Supplementary Type Certificate (STC) had been issued to the airplane for the use of auto gas. The pilot reported the engine was running smooth; it did not "cough" when full power was applied; and it did not have carburetor ice. The pilot reported the winds were calm and the temperature was 85 degrees F. The elevation at 6V4 is 2,810 feet. The density altitude was about 5,031 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N39971](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39971-2007-09-20), registration cancelled 2007-09-20, S/N 6630, built 1945 (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: 6630 - Airframe hours: 1084 - Engines: Continental A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: James Nachtigall - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2001, 39 hours before - Departed: Owanka, SD - Destination: 6V4, Wall, SD - Airport: 6V4, Wall Airport, runway 12, 3,500 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 39 total, 39 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: RAP, 28 nm away ## 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 20010727020249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010727020249A), Jul 27, 2001: Tcraft BC12D, Wall, SD, No damage. (.19) On July 27, 2001, at 1800 central daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, N39971, sustained substantial damage during landing roll when it nosed over in a… ## Other investigations on N39971 (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 CHI05LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05LA023), Nov 6, 2004: Taylorcraft BC12-D (N39971), Wasta, SD, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot inadvertently pulled the fuel shut off valve resulting in fuel starvation and a subsequent loss of engine power. The pilot also failed to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in the… 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.