# NTSB ERA16LA179: Taylorcraft BC12 D, N43363, Critz, VA, May 7, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 7, 2016, 14:29 local (18:29 UTC) - Place: Critz, VA - Coordinates: 36.5625, -80.136108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5625&lon=-80.1361&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 11, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93120 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16LA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93120/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93120 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA179 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed while on final approach, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was on a cross-country pleasure flight and returning to the airplane's home base. Upon arriving at the destination, he flew over the runway and noted that the wind was from the southwest between 7 and 8 kts. He entered the airport traffic pattern on the downwind leg for runway 19, then turned onto the base and final legs. While on final approach and flying between 10 and 15 ft above ground level, the airplane suddenly veered to the left. The pilot added partial power and the engine responded; however, the airplane clipped a tree, then impacted the ground. The pilot indicated that there was no preimpact failure or malfunction of the engine or airplane and that the airplane was above stall speed when it veered to the left. However, data downloaded from the GPS receiver indicated that the pilot allowed the airplane to slow near its stall speed. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack and the airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall. ## Factual narrative On May 7, 2016, about 1429 eastern daylight time, a privately owned and operated Taylorcraft BC12-D, N43363, collided with trees then the ground during landing at Moorefield's Airstrip (VA27), Critz, Virginia. The private pilot, the sole occupant sustained serious injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated about 56 minutes earlier from Person County Airport (TDF), Roxboro, North Carolina, and was destined for VA27.The pilot stated that he did not obtain a formal weather briefing for the intended round robin cross country flight from VA27 to TDF, but he did watch TV to obtain the weather conditions. After attending a fly-in at TDF, he departed to return to the airplane's home base (VA27), and noted the windsock depicted wind from the southwest at 7 or 8 kts when flying over the airstrip, which favored runway 19. He entered the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern for that runway, and then turned onto the base and final legs of the airport traffic pattern. While on short final approach, about 10 to 15 feet above ground level while in a slight right wing low attitude with left rudder input to correct for a slight right crosswind, the airplane suddenly veered 90 degrees to the left. He added slight power, adding that the engine responded, but impacted the top of a pine sapling. The airplane then descended and impacted the ground. He indicated there was no pre-impact failure or malfunction of the airplane or engine, and the airplane's stall speed was between 40 and 45 mph. The on-board GPS receiver was sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory for downloading. According to the specialist's factual report, the accident flight was recorded from takeoff until close proximity to the accident site. According to the downloaded data, while on final approach, the airplane's groundspeed varied, initially increasing to a maximum of 46 kts, and then decreasing as the flight continued towards the runway to the lowest value of 38 kts (about 44 mph) at the last data point. The accident site was located about 140 feet from the last GPS target location. A review of weather data by a NTSB meteorologist revealed a north/south oriented band of clouds located west of the accident site which moved over the accident site after the accident. Satellite images depicted cloud streets oriented from basically west to east spaced every 10 to 20 miles from north to south which are indicative of low-level wind shear and some low-level turbulence. The weather radar imagery from around the accident time showed no rain shower or thunderstorm over the accident site; however, rain showers without lightning moved over the accident site about 15 minutes after the accident. At 1435, or about 6 minutes after the accident, a surfaceobservation taken at Blue Ridge Airport (MTV), located about 7 nautical miles east-northeast from the accident site reported the wind 310° at 8 kts. The closest terminal area forecast was from Danville Regional Airport (DAN), located about 39 nautical miles nearly due east of the accident site. The forecast from 1000 hours local and again about 4 minutes before the flight departed was for the wind to be from 300 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 16 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43363](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43363-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 7022, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC12 D (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: 7022 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 2411.41 - Engines: Continental A65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 2015, 22 hours before - Departed: TDF, Roxboro, NC - Destination: VA27, Critz, VA - Airport: VA27, Moorefield's Airstrip, runway 19, 2,160 × 70 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 20, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 728 total, 170 in this make and model, 684 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: MTV, 7 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 20160507004539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160507004539A), May 7, 2016: Taylorcraft BC12-D, Spencer, VA, Substantial damage. During approach to moorefield airport wind gusts forced aircraft to the east after passing the runway threshold. Aircraft contacted trees, nosed over into the… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93120. 7.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of NTSB Conversations (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversations-Master.PDF - FAA Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 330 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Investigative Photographs (item 5, .PDF, 784 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Master.PDF - Global Positioning System - Specialist's Factual Report (item 6, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Global%20Positioning%20System%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - GPS 17 - Attachment 1 Tabular Data (item 7, .CSV, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463855&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=GPS%2017%20-%20Attachment%201%20Tabular%20Data-Master.csv - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15, and NTSB Evidence Control Form (item 8, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463856&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15,%20and%20NTSB%20Evidence%20Control%20Form-Master.PDF 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.