# NTSB GAA20CA015: Taylorcraft BC12, N96709, Goddard, KS, October 13, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 13, 2019, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Goddard, KS - Coordinates: 37.692501, -97.543609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6925&lon=-97.5436&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100414 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100414/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100414 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA015 ## Probable cause The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (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) - [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) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: 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 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N96709), registered now, S/N 9009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft BC12 (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: 9009 - Year built: 1946 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20191013023229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191013023229A), Oct 13, 2019: Taylorcraft BC12-D, Goddard, KS, Substantial damage. The pilot obtained local automated weather report from ict (wichita dwight d. eisenhower airport, wichita, KS) prior to takeoff, indicating clear skies,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 17, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100414. 658 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 536 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479135&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479136&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.