# NTSB CHI99FA147: Taylorcraft BC-12D, N96876, Newton, IA, May 9, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 9, 1999, 10:05 local (15:05 UTC) - Place: Newton, IA - Coordinates: 41.690887, -93.040298 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6909&lon=-93.0403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 46292 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99FA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46292/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99FA147 ## Probable cause the failure of the pilot to maintain flying speed resulting in a stall and spin into the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed(v1) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis Witnesses reported that the aircraft was circling a relative's home between 500 and 800-feet above ground level. These witnesses said the airplane pitched up steeply, rolled to the left, then pitched down steeply. The witnesses said the airplane appeared to spin and then collided with the terrain in a steep nose down attitude. The on-scene investigation revealed flight control continuity and no anomalies with the engine that would prevent power development. The airplane was not equipped with a shoulder harness. ## Factual narrative On May 9, 1999, at 1005 central daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC-12D, N96876, piloted by a commercial pilot, collided with the terrain following a loss of control in flight and an uncontrolled descent. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight departed East Moline, Illinois, exact time unknown. The Jasper County Sheriff's Report stated that the pilot had flown to Newton to attend a family get together and by previous arrangement the pilot would circle his residence and family members would meet the pilot at the Newton Municipal airport. One of the family members said the aircraft flew north, rocked his wings, saying "Hi" and circled the house. This witness said "After that, as the plane was flying north, it proceeded to go up at about a 45 degree angle. It 'appeared' to stall. The plane then either went left or right and 'spiraled' into the ground." OTHER WITNESSES One witness said the "Yellow plane buzzed over, turned came back over climbed straight up, nosed over, came down never pulled out, crashed in field." Another witness said "Aircraft circled once over head, the second pass around it went straight up stalled and spinned and hit ground. Never pulled out of spin." Another witness observed "The airplane proceeded in a northerly direction and nose went up and right wing went high and the plane stalled (slow speed)...the maneuver almost appeared to be what is commonly called a 'hammerhead'. The airplane went nose down and turned 1 to 1 1/2 revolutions before it impacted the ground." PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a Commercial Pilot's Certificate in Single Engine land and Sea Ratings and an Instrument Airplane Rating. The pilot had in excess of 925 flight hours. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The last annual inspection noted in the aircraft logbook was on January 2, 1998, at a total aircraft time of 1727 hours with the engine recording 529.0 hours since major overhaul.. WRECKAGE The wreckage was located about 1/2 mile south of Newton on S74 and 1/4 mile west in a field. The on scene inspection by NTSB investigators revealed flight control continuity. No anomalies with the engine were found that would prevent power development. See attached photographs of accident scene. SURVIVAL FACTORS The Chief Deputy of the Jasper County Sheriff's Office wrote in his report: "I made contact with Dr. Francis Garrity, Deputy State Medical Examiner ... He asked me if the plane was equipped with shoulder harness. I told him 'no' and told him about a question had been raised that the victim might not have had his lap belt fastened. Dr Garrity told me that that might be consistent to his observations, as he did not detect bruising consistent with lap belt use on the body." MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy of the pilot was conducted by the Deputy State Medical Examiner/Pathologist from Des Moines, Iowa. FAA toxicology testing of samples taken from the pilot were negative for ethanol, cyanide, and carbon monoxide. Theophylline was detected in the blood and liver fluid. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96876](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96876-2015-05-13), registration cancelled 2015-05-13, S/N 9176, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft BC-12D - 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: 9176 - Airframe hours: 1727 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mark F. Criswell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 1998 - Departed: C95, EAST MOLINE, IL - Destination: NEWTON, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 925 total, 865 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: DSM, 30 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 19990509004699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990509004699A), May 9, 1999: Tcraft BC12D, Newton, IA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Witnesses state that the acft was flying in the vicinity of the family residence when it made a steep climb, nosed over, went into a spin, and crashed, the… 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.