# NTSB MIA02LA076: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N43615, Crescent City, FL, April 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 2, 2002, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Crescent City, FL - Coordinates: 29.502222, -81.57833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5022&lon=-81.5783&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FSDO FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54445 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54445/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54445 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA076 ## Probable cause Tfhe failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during takeoff roll, resulting in an excursion off the left side of the runway and collision with an adjacent hangar. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - hangar/airport building ## Analysis According to the pilot, as soon as he lifted the tail wheel off the ground during takeoff, the right wing lifted, he lost directional control, and the aircraft ran off the left side of the grass runway, into an adjacent hangar. He stated that no mechanical irregularities, or surface wind conditions were a factor in the accident. Postcrash investigation by an FAA inspector confirmed that mechanical malfunction was not a factor. ## Factual narrative On April 2, 2002, about 1330 eastern standard time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, N43615, registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed during takeoff in the vicinity of Crescent City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage, a hangar received minor collision damage, and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was departing at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, during takeoff roll from a private grass strip, as soon as he brought the tail wheel off the runway in his rotation sequence, the right wing suddenly lifted, causing him to lose directional control. The aircraft veered left off the runway and into an adjacent hangar. He reported neither surface winds nor runway conditions were a factor in the runway excursion. The pilot reported damage to the hangar was limited to an entrance door and aluminum siding. According to an FAA inspector, a postcrash inspection of the aircraft determined that there were no mechanical discrepancies that may have contributed to the accident. The pilot agreed to taking additional training in tail wheel configured aircraft prior to exercising further solo privileges. ## Aircraft - Registration: N43615 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft BC12-D - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7274 - Airframe hours: 2960 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 2002, 0 hours before - Departed: 78FL, Crescent City, FL - Airport: 78FL, Pomona Landing Airport, runway 20, 2,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 15, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 355 total, 115 in this make and model, 355 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 27 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 20020402009249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020402009249A), Apr 2, 2002: Tcraft BC12D, Pomona Park, FL, No damage. (-23) During takeoff roll when tail wheel lifted off ground the aircraft veered hard left and collided with open aircraft number. An inspection of the aircraft… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 27, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54445. 289 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422549&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.