# NTSB CHI89LA162: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N5131M, Garrettsville, OH, August 6, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1989, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Garrettsville, OH
- Coordinates: 41.370895, -81.059249 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3709&lon=-81.0592&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14398
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89LA162
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14398/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA162

## Probable cause

THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO INADVERTENTLY ENTER A STALL/SPIN.  TURBULENCE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ACFT WAS IN A SLIGHT LEFT TURN, CROSSING OVER TREES ON FINAL APCH FOR LANDING, WHEN IT 'VIOLENTLY TURNED' AS IF A WING HAD STALLED. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CRASHED IN A LEFT WING LOW, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. DUE TO A HEAD INJURY, THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO REMEMBER THE ACDNT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS EVIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5131M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5131M-1990-12-05), registration cancelled 1990-12-05, S/N 10431 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC12-D
- Registry model: [Taylorcraft BC12-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc12-d) (registry code 8850316) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 10431
- Airframe hours: 1360
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Monahan, Daniel W.
- Registered owner: Monahan, Daniel W
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 27, 1988, 50 hours before
- Departed: 7D8
- Destination: 7D8
- Airport: 7D8, Gates, runway 26, 3,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 550 total, 25 in this make and model, 490 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CAK, 31 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 19890806027419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890806027419A), Aug 6, 1989: Tcraft BC12D, Garrettsville, OH, Destroyed. Stalled a wing in turbulence while turning low level base to final for landing. Wing hit and aircraft cartwheeled.

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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