# NTSB NYC90LA058: Taylorcraft BC12D, N44068, Roxbury, ME, January 28, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 28, 1990, 11:38 local (16:38 UTC)
- Place: Roxbury, ME
- Location: 44.6698° N, 70.5934° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Roxbury, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6698&lon=-70.5934&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 21, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36604
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90LA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36604/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA058

## Probable cause

PILOT FACTOR IN THAT HE FAILED TO PLAN THE APPROACH FOR GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AND IMPACTED TREES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with weather, takeoff
  - weather condition - downdraft (cause)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND PASSENGER STATED THAT IT WAS VERY BUMPY ON THE RETURN FLIGHT. WITH AN AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 80 KNOTS AND 300 FEET FROM THE END OF THE FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT HIT A LARGE GUST OF WIND WHICH PUSHED THE AIRCRAFT DOWNWARD. THE PILOT PUSHED THE POWER FORWARD, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT HIT A TREE, THE PILOT CUT THE POWER AND LET IT SETTLE INTO THE TREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44068](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44068), registered now, S/N 9868, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC12D
- Registry model: [Taylorcraft BC12D-85](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc12d-85) (registry code 8850322) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 9868
- Engines: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ron Hodgkins
- Registered owner: Ronald Hodgkins
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ROXBURY, ME

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 966 total, 210 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 25 knots, gusting 15
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900128002179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900128002179A), Jan 28, 1990: Tcraft BC12D85, Roxbury, ME, Substantial damage. Pilot reported windshear put him into trees on short final. No current biennial.

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.

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