- Date
- May 18, 1985, 19:00 local (May 19, 1985, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Michigan City, IN
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N44345Taylorcraft BC-12D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850518018049A
- Case key
- 13071
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Analysis
Shortly after takeoff the acft experienced a total loss of power & made an emerg landing into a corn field. Investigation disclosed that there was no gas in the carburetor. The plt stated that there was about 10 gals in the acft prior to takeoff. No fuel was found at the accident, however the fuel tank had been ruptured. When the fuel tank cap vent was inspected it was found to be clogged with mud. The cap fitted loosely & it could not be determined how much venting could have taken place around the fuel cap gasket.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N44345
- Reported as
- Taylorcraft BC-12D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 10145
- Airframe hours
- 1,200
- Engine
- Continental A-65, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Dennis M. Phillips
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
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
- 36
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 600 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SBN, 20 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.