# NTSB CHI96LA069: Taylorcraft BC-12, N39244, Winner, SD, December 29, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 29, 1995, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Winner, SD - Coordinates: 43.370124, -99.84906 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3701&lon=-99.8491&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 1, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10180 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10180/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA069 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during takeoff. A factor was the pilot's diversion of his attention to a perceived engine problem. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD TROUBLE GETTING THE ENGINE STARTED. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB HE FELT THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT GIVING QUITE THE FULL POWER HE EXPECTED. HE TRIED TO CHECK THE MAGNETOS AND CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB. HE STATED THAT HE WAS NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT HE WAS DOING, AND THAT HE, '...BASICALLY JUST STALLED IT AND SPUN IT INTO THE GROUND.' HE HAD OWNED THE AIRPLANE FOR ABOUT A MONTH, AND HAD 30 HOURS TOTAL TIME IN THE AIRPLANE WHICH INCLUDED 10 HOURS OF DUAL. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT USE MORE THAN 100 YARDS DURING THE GROUND RUN, AND THAT THE WING AND TAIL SECTION WERE VIBRATING 'PRETTY ROUGH' DURING THE TAKEOFF FROM THE STUBBLE FIELD. THE AIRPLANE BANKED HARD LEFT, AND THEN CUT BACK HARD TO THE RIGHT BEFORE IT WENT STRAIGHT OVER AND NOSED STRAIGHT IN. THE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD CLIMBED ABOUT 150 FEET. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND HAD CONTINUITY. THE COMPRESSION CHECKED NORMAL. ## Factual narrative On December 29, 1995, at 1700 central standard time, a Taylorcraft BC-12, N39244, was substantially damaged when it lost control during takeoff climb and impacted the terrain near Winner, South Dakota. The pilot was seriously injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed a stubble wheat field. The pilot had intended to land at Bob Riley Field, at Winner, South Dakota, which was about four miles away. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he had trouble getting the engine started since he had to pull the propeller through twenty times before it started. After the engine run-up he departed the field to the southeast. He reported that during the initial climb he felt that the engine was not giving quite the full power he expected. During a telephone conversation, the pilot reported that he tried to check the magnetos and carburetor heat during the takeoff climb. He stated that he was not paying attention to what he was doing, and that he, "...basically just stalled it and spun it into the ground." He reported that it was pilot error without a doubt, and that he could have flown it down to the ground. He reported that he had owned the airplane for about a month. He had 30 hours total time in the airplane which included 10 hours of dual flight time. A witness reported that the wing and tail section were vibrating "pretty rough" during the takeoff from the stubble field. The witness reported that the airplane got up in the air pretty fast and did not use more than 100 yards during the ground run. He reported that the airplane banked hard left, and then cut back hard to the right before it went straight over and nosed straight in. The witness reported that the airplane had climbed about 150 feet. An Airworthiness Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the wreakage. He reported that after initial liftoff the airplane settled down near the ground, and then climbed in a nose high attitude. He reported that the aircraft stalled, spun, and impacted the ground almost vertically straight down. The highest altitude gained was 150 to 200 feet above ground level. The engine was examined and it had continuity and the compression checked normal. The wooden propeller was splintered and only about 16 inches of the propeller remained intact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N39244](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N39244), registered now, S/N 6498, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC-12 - 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: 6498 - Airframe hours: 2434 - Engines: CONTINENTAL A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Monte L. Hay - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 1995, 73 hours before - Destination: SD39, WINNER AIRPORT, SD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 98 total, 28 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: VTN, 50 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 19951229042799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951229042799A), Dec 29, 1995: Tcraft BC12D, Winner, SD, Substantial damage. Beleived engine problem on climbout failed to fly aircraft while trouble shooting. Stalled and spun in farm field. (-23) airman took off from a furrowed field.… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.