# NTSB CHI91LA141: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N61978, Evansville, WI, April 26, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 26, 1991, 10:33 local (15:33 UTC)
- Place: Evansville, WI
- Coordinates: 42.769443, -89.289962 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7694&lon=-89.2900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15052
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15052/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA141

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING, NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND ATTEMPTING A GO-AROUND WITHOUT SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED. A FACTOR WAS THE RUTTED RUNWAY SURFACE.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - ditch (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted
  - touchdown - uncontrolled, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING CROSSWIND TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS AT A PRIVATE AIRPORT WITH A SOD RUNWAY.  THE RUNWAY WAS POSITIONED BETWEEN TWO FIELDS THAT WERE FRESHLY PLOWED.  THE TRACTOR WHICH HAD PLOWED THE FIELDS USED THE RUNWAY AS A CROSSING POINT BETWEEN THE TWO FIELDS BEING PLOWED CREATING RUTS ON ITS SURFACE.  IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT STORED ON THE FIELD DURING THE WINTER MONTHS HAD ALSO LEFT RUTS ON THE RUNWAY'S SURFACE. DURING ONE OF THE PILOT'S LANDINGS THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A RUT, BOUNCED INTO THE AIR. DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO AROUND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, DESCENDED INTO THE FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD AND FLIPPED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N61978 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC12-D
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7658
- Airframe hours: 1207
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sugar River Flying Club
- Registered owner: Sugar River Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 1990, 20 hours before
- Departed: C37, BRODHEAD, WI
- Airport: 7W18, Fellows, runway 18, 3,700 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 854 total, 44 in this make and model, 814 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: JVL, 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910426012769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910426012769A), Apr 26, 1991: Tcraft BC12D, Evansville, WI, Substantial damage. Drifted off runway on crosswind flare began go around. Settled in adjacent plowed field and nosed over.

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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