# NTSB CHI87FA177: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N99AW, Morris, MN, July 29, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 28, 1987, 19:10 local (Jul 29, 1987, 00:10 UTC)
- Place: Morris, MN
- Coordinates: 45.58028, -95.899971 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5803&lon=-95.9000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13650
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87FA177
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13650/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87FA177

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS FERRYING THE ACFT FROM OHIO TO ALASKA. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE STOPPED & REFUELED AT MORRIS, MN. AFTER HE TOOK OFF, THE PLANE CRASHED IN AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THE ARPT. NO KNOWN WITNESSES SAW THE ACDNT, BUT A PASSERBY FOUND THE ACFT ON ITS NOSE ABOUT 20 MIN LATER. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PLANE HAD IMPACTED IN A STEEP DESCENT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS EVIDENT, BUT THE ACFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 80 LBS OVER ITS MAX WT LIMIT. THE DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 3000'.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N99AW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99AW-2013-05-31), registration cancelled 2013-05-31, S/N 8405, 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: 8405
- Airframe hours: 1886
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donald W. Wilder
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 1987, 76 hours before
- Departed: MOX, MORRIS, MN
- Destination: FAR, FARGO, ND
- Airport: MOX, Morris Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 354 total, 14 in this make and model, 298 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ALX, 39 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 19870728040149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870728040149A), Jul 28, 1987: Tcraft BC12D, Morris, MN, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Stalled and crashed off the departure end of runway. Aircraft was over gross weight.

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.

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