# NTSB DEN88LA178: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N95855, Clinton, MT, August 6, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1988, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Clinton, MT
- Coordinates: 46.609352, -113.58979 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6094&lon=-113.5898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17522
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17522/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA178

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG TAKEOFF FROM RWY 25, THE WINDS WERE FROM 270 DEG AT 10 GUSTING 15 KTS. HE STATED THAT DRG THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE AIRPLANE ENCTRD A SEVERE WINDSHEAR. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE LOST CONTROL & THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A 40 DEG NOSE DOWN, 70 DEG LEFT BANK ATTITUDE. THE ACFT THEN CARTWHEELED & CAME TO REST INVERTED ON THE RWY. THE LEFT WING WAS SHEARED AT THE STRUT ENDS, THE FUSELAGE WAS BENT & THE ENG WAS TORN AWAY FROM THE ACFT. THE PLT SAID HE FELT THE ACFT HAD ENCTRD A WHIRLWIND. ALSO, THE PLT NOTED THAT THERE WAS MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN NEARBY & WHIRLWINDS WERE COMMON. HOWEVER, JUST BEFORE THE ACDNT, RAIN HAD FALLEN, WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED BLOWING DUST FROM MAKING WHIRLWINDS VISIBLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N95855](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N95855), registered now, S/N 8155, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC12-D
- Registry model: [Taylorcraft BC](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc) (registry code 8850302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 8155
- Airframe hours: 2464
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ernest E. & Aileen Nicolls
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 1987, 40 hours before
- Departed: 25S
- Destination: 9S5, THREE FORKS, MT
- Airport: 25S, Eliott Field, runway 25, 3,800 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,095 total, 417 in this make and model, 1,010 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F

## 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 19880806031079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880806031079A), Aug 6, 1988: Tcraft BC12D, Clinton, MT, Substantial damage. Lost control on climbout stalled and crashed off end of runway. Pilot blamed a whirlwind caused loss of control.

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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