CHI03CA022

NTSB accident investigation · Taylorcraft BC12-D · Albion, MI · November 17, 2002

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
November 17, 2002, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC)
Place
Albion, MI
Injuries
1 minor, 1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N5066MTaylorcraft BC12-D
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 13, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA -- Detroit FSDO
FAA report
20021117033699A
Case key
56088

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

A failure by the pilot to maintain sufficient airspeed while maneuvering. Contributing factors were the resulting stall/spin, the relatively low altitude and the soft terrain encountered.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering
Airspeed - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Low altitude flight/maneuver - intentionalPilot in commandFactor
Stall/spin - encounteredPilot in commandFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - softFactor

Analysis

The pilot reported making several patterns in the local area at 500~800 feet agl. After the last pass, the pilot stated that he entered a left turn and inadvertently stalled the airplane. As the airplane began to enter a spin, he notes that he "took corrective action to regain control of the aircraft.". Although he reported recovering from the stall/spin, he was unable to arrest the resulting descent. The airplane impacted a soft, muddy field in a relatively level attitude.

Factual narrative

On November 17, 2002, at 1545 eastern standard time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, N5066M, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following an inadvertant stall/spin while maneuvering. The accident occurred approximately 2 miles east of Albion, Michigan. The local flight originated at 1530 est from a private airstrip, located approximately 3 miles northeast of Albion, Michigan. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported minor injuries and the single passenger on-board reported no injuries.

In his written statement, the pilot reported making several patterns in the local area at altitudes of 500 to 800 feet agl for the purpose of spotting deer. After the last pass, which was approximately 500 feet agl, the pilot stated that he entered a left turn and inadvertently stalled the airplane. As the airplane began to enter a spin, he notes that he "took corrective action to regain control of the aircraft." Although the pilot reported recovering from the stall/spin, he was unable to arrest the resulting descent. He stated "As I leveled out the plane from the spin, we went into the thick brush." The airplane impacted a soft, muddy area in a relatively level attitude and slid approximately 20 feet before coming to a rest.

Aircraft

Registration
N5066M
Reported as
Taylorcraft BC12-D
Category
Airplane
Serial number
10366
Airframe hours
2,665
Engine
Continental A&C 65 Series, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 3, 2002 · 26 hours before
Departed
N/A · Albion, MI
Airport
---

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
46
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
August 4, 2001
Seat
Left
Flight hours
476 total · 442 in this make and model · 26 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
300° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
36 °F, dew point 18 °F
Altimeter
29.94 inHg
Observed at
JXN, 11 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.

Other investigations on N5066M · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.