# NTSB NYC98LA135: Taylorcraft BC12-65, N47893, West Buxton, ME, June 28, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 1998, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: West Buxton, ME - Location: 43.6670° N, 70.6031° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of West Buxton, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6670&lon=-70.6031&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39579 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39579/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA135 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to see-and-avoid power lines (inadequate visual lookout), as he was approaching to make a water landing on a river. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - object - wire,transmission - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The student pilot flew an approach to a river to land his floatplane. During the approach, the airplane's right wing struck an unmarked power-line, which caused the airplane to spin several times before impacting the water, floats first. The student pilot had never obtained his private pilot's certificate, although he had logged over 5,800 hours as student pilot-in-command, of which 2,200 hours were in make and model. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 1998, at 1345 eastern daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12-65, a floatplane, N47893, was substantially damaged when its right wing contacted a power line during an approach to the Saco River near West Buxton, Maine. The student pilot was seriously injured and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight that departed Watchete Lake near Standish, Maine, about 1315. No flight plan was filed and the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. During a telephone interview, the student pilot stated he was executing a river landing to the south on the Saco River, when he encountered a "slight" down draft, causing the right wing to contact a power-line that spanned the half mile wide river. After contacting the wire, the airplane spun several times before impacting the water, floats first. The pilot added he was not aware of the wires and that they were unmarked. Also during the telephone interview, the student pilot stated that he had over 2,200 hours of floatplane experience and over 5,800 hours of pilot-in-command time as a student pilot. The student pilot also stated that he has owned several airplanes in his life, and currently owns two. In addition he stated that his pilot logbook was in the airplane at the time of the accident, and can not be located. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47893](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47893), registered now, S/N 2934, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft BC12-65 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft BC12-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc12-65) (registry code 8850310) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2934 - Engines: Continental A-65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Leonard Merrill - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,819 total, 3,100 in this make and model, 5,819 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PWM, 10 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 19980628015129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980628015129A), Jun 28, 1998: Tcraft BC1265, Buxton, ME, Substantial damage. Acft was landing in the saco river when it struck guide wires and crashed in the river. (-23) on 06/28/98 taylor craft N47893, piloted by leonard merrill,… ## Other investigations on N47893 (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC78FNC33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FNC33), Jun 24, 1978: Taylorcraft BC-12D (N47893), Scarboro, ME, destroyed 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.