# NTSB DEN85FA084: Taylorcraft BC-65, N26580, Chinook, MT, February 22, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 22, 1985, 13:35 local (20:35 UTC)
- Place: Chinook, MT
- Coordinates: 48.470245, -109.209556 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4702&lon=-109.2096&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16527
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16527/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA084

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - low pass - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - below, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - open field (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A SHALLOW RIGHT CLIMBING TURN AT ABOUT 200 FEET AGL AFTER MAKING A LOW PASS OVER FRIENDS. WITNESSES SAID THE AIRPLANE THEN STALLED AND DOVE TO THE GROUND. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF AIRFRAME, ENG, PROP, FLT CONTROL, OR SYST FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OR PLT INCAPACITATION. VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE PLT HAD LOGGED A TOTAL OF 173 HOURS, OF WHICH 34.0 HOURS WERE IN MAKE/MODEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26580](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26580-2014-09-25), registration cancelled 2014-09-25, S/N 1922, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC-65
- Registry model: [Taylorcraft BL-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bl-65) (registry code 8850350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1922
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: George Phares
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 20, 1985, 340 hours before
- Departed: S71, CHINOOK, MT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 173 total, 34 in this make and model, 131 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HVR, 26 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 19850222004059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850222004059A), Feb 22, 1985: Tcraft BC65, Chinook, MT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft made low slow pass over farm. Started climbing turn, wing dropped and aircraft nosed into ground.

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.

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