- Date
- April 9, 1989, 17:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- Gorham, ME
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N43561Taylorcraft BC12-D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report December 10, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890409006849A
- Case key
- 36347
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
Failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed when he diverted his attention during a low pass and allowed the aircraft to enter a stall/spin. The unfavorable wind was a factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt rprtd he flew to a nearby airstrip to watch another acft land; however, he (plt of N43561) did not plan to land. He said he flew an upwind pass over the strip at aprx 600 to 700 ft AGL as he watched the other acft land. The low pass was made in a right wing low attitude while using rudder to maintain directional control. The plt rprtd that as he flew over a gravel pit near the strip, the acft enctrd unfavorable wind & nosed up. He pushed the yoke foward & applied full power; however, the acft began to rotate (spin), then it crashed in a steep dscnt. No preimpact mechanical problem was found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N43561
- Reported as
- Taylorcraft BC12-D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7220
- Airframe hours
- 1,625
- Engine
- Continental A-65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Stephen O. Berry
- Registered owner
- Stephen O Berry
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 18, 1989 · 8 hours before
- Departed
- Limington, ME
- Airport
- Webster Airstrip
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
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 420 total · 35 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 290° at 17 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.