- Date
- September 8, 1996, 18:04 local (22:04 UTC)
- Place
- Bellaire, MI
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N43687Taylorcraft BC-12D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960908026259A
- Case key
- 10109
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper remedial action, while recovering from an intentional stall, which resulted in an inadvertent spin and collision with the terrain. The lack of altitude for recovery was a related factor.
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
The passenger, who was also the owner/operator of the airplane, reported that the pilot was 'performing power off stalls' about 1000 above ground level. According to the passenger, 'the left wing apparently stalled first initiating a left spin. Spin recovery was not accomplished due to lack of altitude.' The airplane came to rest in a steep nose down pitch attitude. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.
Factual narrative
History of flight
On September 8, 1996, at 1804 eastern daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC-12D, N43687, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following an in-flight loss of control while maneuvering near Bellaire, Michigan. The commercial rated pilot sustained fatal injuries and the sole passenger sustained serious injuries. The local, 14 CFR Part 91, personal flight originated at 1720 in Traverse City, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The passenger, who was also the owner/operator of the airplane, reported that the pilot was "performing power off stalls... at 1800 mean sea level, the left wing apparently stalled first initiating a left spin. Spin recovery was not accomplished due to lack of altitude."
Wreckage and impact information
The NTSB on-scene investigation began September 9, 1996 about 1600. The wreckage was located in a grassy field northwest of the intersection of Dunson Road and Clam Lake Road.
The fuselage was in a near vertical nose down pitch attitude. The fuselage, forward of the landing gear struts, was crushed aft. The right wing was separated at the root and was located about 90 feet from the main wreckage. The outboard five feet of the right leading edge was crushed aft at a 20 degree angle. The left wing was fractured chordwise about two feet inboard of the lift strut attachments. No evidence of preimpact flight control or engine control malfunction was discovered.
One blade of the wood, fixed pitch propeller was fractured near the root and the other blade was fractured at the midspan. The blades exhibited minor chordwise scratching on the forward faces. Engine continuity was verified. The spark plugs were slightly sooted and examination of the carburetor revealed no evidence of anomaly.
An emergency locator transmitter antenna was attached to the airplane but the transmitter was not discovered at the accident site.
Medical and pathological information
An autopsy of the pilot was performed at the Munson Medical Center, Traverse City, Michigan on September 9, 1996. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)toxicological testing was negative for all tests conducted.
Additional information
The FAA Flight Standards District Office, Grand Rapids, Michigan, was a party to the investigation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N43687
- Reported as
- Taylorcraft BC-12D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7346
- Engine
- Continental A-65, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Steven K. Derr
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 14, 1996
- Departed
- TVC · Traverse City, MI
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
- 61
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,800 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.