GAA20CA015

NTSB accident investigation · Taylorcraft BC12 · Goddard, KS · October 13, 2019

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
October 13, 2019, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
Place
Goddard, KS
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N96709Taylorcraft BC12
Defining event
Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 21, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20191013023229A
Case key
100414

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 exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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.

Performance/control parameters: angle of attackAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceededTaylorcraft BC12-D: 4 casesAll aircraft: 990 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotTaylorcraft BC12-D: 18 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Wind: variable windEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationTaylorcraft BC12-D: 1 caseAll aircraft: 113 cases

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 reported that, during takeoff, the airplane lifted off and that he felt "a strange push," and the airplane drifted left toward some hangars. He made corrections toward the runway centerline, and the airplane felt "mushy." The airspeed decreased, so he lowered the nose to increase the airspeed. The airplane then stalled, impacted a soft field, and came to a sudden stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that the wind was 7 to 10 mph from the south-southeast and shifted to 7 to 10 mph from the north-northeast. The pilot departed from runway 18.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff, the airplane lifted off and he felt "a strange push" and the airplane drifted left towards some hangars. He made corrections toward the runway centerline and the airplane felt "mushy." The airspeed decreased, so he lowered the nose to increase the airspeed. The airplane "continued to [aerodynamically] stall." The airplane landed in a soft field and came to a sudden stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station, located 6 miles to the east, reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was variable at 3 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 23 minutes after the accident, the wind was calm. The pilot reported that the wind was 7 to 10 mph from the south-southeast and shifted to 7 to 10 mph from the north-northeast. The pilot departed on runway 18.

Aircraft

Registration
N96709
Reported as
Taylorcraft BC12 (D)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
9009
Built
1946
Engine
Continental A65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
SN64 · Goddard, KS
Flight plan
Unknown
Airport
SN64 · Eck Field, runway 18, 2,499 × 70 ft, grass/turf
Equipment
Unknown

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
69
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 19, 2018
Seat
Left
Flight hours
810 total · 55 in this make and model · 783 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
66 °F, dew point 36 °F
Altimeter
29.96 inHg
Observed at
KICT, 6 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 17, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 658 KB 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.