# NTSB DEN03LA066: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N43591, West Jordan, UT, April 16, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 16, 2003, 16:05 local (22:05 UTC) - Place: West Jordan, UT - Coordinates: 40.619445, -111.992774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6194&lon=-111.9928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 56834 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56834/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA066 ## Probable cause the dual student's failure to maintain aircraft control and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student. A contributing factor was the unfavorable wind gust. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, takeoff - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command(cfi) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - object - taxiway light - object - sign ## Analysis The private pilot receiving instruction was practicing touch-and-go landings. After making a three-point landing, he added power and raised the tail off the ground to takeoff attitude. At 60 mph, he eased back and the airplane lifted off. After climbing about 10 feet, a gust of wind lifted the left wing. The instructor took control and applied full left rudder and aileron. The airplane encountered another wind gust and struck a runway light and sign. The wing spar was broken and the main landing gear was damaged. ## Factual narrative On April 16, 2003, approximately 1605 mountain daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, N43591, registered to and operated by the flight instructor, was substantially damaged when it collided with an airport taxiway light and sign and terrain during takeoff at Salt Lake City Municipal 2 Airport, West Jordan, Utah. The commercial certificated flight instructor and the private pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at West Jordan approximately 1530. The following is based on the accident report submitted by the flight instructor. His student, a private pilot, was practicing touch-and-go landings. After making a three-point landing, he added power and raised the tail off the ground to the takeoff attitude. At 60 mph, he eased back and the airplane lifted off. After climbing about 10 feet, a gust of wind lifted the left wing. The instructor took control and applied full left rudder and aileron. The airplane encountered another wind gust and struck a runway light and sign, breaking the wing spar and damaging the right main landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43591](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43591-2017-06-19), registration cancelled 2017-06-19, S/N 7250, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft BC12-D - 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: 7250 - Airframe hours: 2886 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joel R. Cunningham - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 14, 2003, 66 hours before - Departed: U42, West Jordan, UT - Destination: U42 - Airport: U42, Salt Lake City Municipal 2, runway 34, 5,860 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 18, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 656 total, 242 in this make and model, 587 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 7, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 127 total, 1 in this make and model, 63 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SLC, 13 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 20030416004839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030416004839A), Apr 16, 2003: Tcraft BC12D, Salt Lake City, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) During an instructional flight the aircraft encountered a gust of wind (immediately after rotation) that lifted the left wing. The instructor took 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.