- Date
- June 2, 2019, 11:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place
- Sedona, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N44249Taylorcraft BC12
- Defining event
- Landing: Nose over/nose down
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190602005859A
- Case key
- 99541
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a nose-over.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing, the airplane encountered a wind gust, and the tail started to rise. The pilot corrected by pulling the yoke "fully back," but subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 30 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 160° at 14 knots, gusting to 23 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 21.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing, the airplane encountered a gust of wind and the tail started to rise. The pilot corrected by pulling the yoke "fully back", but, subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 30 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 160° at 14 knots, gusting to 23 knots and variable from 130° to 200°. The airplane was landing on runway 21.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N44249
- Reported as
- Taylorcraft BC12 (D)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 10049
- Built
- 1946
- Airframe hours
- 1,619.7
- Engine
- Continental A65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 21, 2018
- Departed
- A39 · Maricopa, AZ
- Destination
- SEZ · Sedona, AZ
- Airport
- SEZ · Sedona, runway 21, 5,132 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 11, 2019
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 690 total · 73 in this make and model · 690 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 14 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KSEZ
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 18, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.