# NTSB DEN05LA069: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N39230, Englewood, CO, April 16, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 16, 2005, 12:38 local (18:38 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.572223, -104.859725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5722&lon=-104.8597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61335 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61335/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA069 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing factors were crosswind weather conditions and a lack of familiarity with the aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was cleared for landing on runway 28, encountered a strong crosswind during the landing flare, and lost directional control of the aircraft. He drifted left off the side of the runway, continued into a ditch, and nosed over. The pilot reported the wind from 040 degrees at 4 knots, and gusting at 350 degrees at 12 knots. The pilot attributes his loss of control to unfamiliarity in the aircraft. ## Factual narrative On April 16, 2005, at 1238 mountain daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, single engine conventional landing gear airplane, N39230, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it departed the side of the runway and nosed over during landing roll at Centennial Airport (APA), Englewood, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated at Brush, Colorado, at approximately 1130 MDT. The pilot stated that he was cleared for landing on runway 28. He encountered a strong crosswind during the landing flare and he lost control of the aircraft. He drifted left off the side of the runway, continued into a ditch and nosed over. The pilot said aircraft sustained a broken right wing spar, bent rudder, bent prop, and a dented cowl. According to the Pilot Aircraft Accident Report ( NTSB Form 6120.1/2), Recommendations (How could this accident have been prevented?), the pilot reported, "more aircraft familiarity." According to witnesses the airplane touched town on its main landing gear and bounced into the air. The pilot "seemed to overcorrect" as he attempted to regain control of the airplane. The airplane touched down a second time on its main landing gear and then it veered to the left. The airplane departed the left side of runway 28 and nosed over. At 1253, APA (elevation 5883 feet MSL) reported weather conditions with winds of 030 degrees at 7 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition, few at 5,000 feet; temperature, 16 degree C.; dew point, 4 degrees C.; altimeter setting, 30.19. The pilot said the winds were at 040 degrees at 4 knots, gusting at 350 degrees at 12 knots; ceiling scattered at 7000 feet AGL; temperature 22 degrees C, dewpoint 12 degrees C; altimeter setting 29.83 . ## Aircraft - Registration: [N39230](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N39230), registered now, S/N 6484, built 1945 (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: 6484 - Airframe hours: 1394 - Engines: Continental A75-8 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James A Bilello - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 7V5, Brush, CO - Destination: APA, Englewood, CO - Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 28, 4,800 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,560 total, 5 in this make and model, 1,310 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: APA ## 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 20050416006639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050416006639A), Apr 16, 2005: Tcraft BC12D, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 16, 2005 at approximately 1238 MDT, N39230 a Taylorcraft BC-12D ground looped after touchdown on runway 28 at Centennial Airport (apa). The… ## Other investigations on N39230 (2) 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. - [NTSB SEA67D0198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA67D0198), Nov 20, 1966: Taylorcraft BC12-D (N39230), Jerome, ID, substantial damage - [NTSB SEA67D0016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA67D0016), Jul 3, 1966: Taylorcraft BC12-D (N39230), Hailey, ID, substantial damage 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.