# NTSB WPR24LA069: Taylorcraft BC12-D, N43415, Whitefish, MT, December 23, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 23, 2023, 08:25 local (15:25 UTC) - Place: Whitefish, MT - Coordinates: 48.40802, -114.29957 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4080&lon=-114.2996&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 193635 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193635/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193635 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA069 ## Probable cause The failure of the airport authorities to renew the airport closure NOTAM for the airport. Contributing to the accident, was the pilot’s inability to see the runway closure sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Oversight: equipment monitoring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032025): Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring · Airport (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032025/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032025/cases.md) - [Communication (organizational): between groups/organizations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04025020): Organizational issues › Management · Airport (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04025020/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04025020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md) - [Sensory ability/limitation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011500): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011500/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); 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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that the airport had recently been closed but the applicable Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) had expired, and he flew to the airport. Upon arrival, he overflew the field to check the wind direction and then entered a downwind for the runway. The approach was uneventful until just before touchdown when the airplane struck a steel structure, which was a runway closed sign, that had been placed near the runway threshold. The pilot further reported that he did not see the sign before impact due to visibility limitations of the tailwheel-equipped airplane on approach. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot thought that the NOTAM of the airport closure had expired. It was determined that the airport was meant to be temporarily closed, but the applicable NOTAM was inadvertently allowed to expire and was not renewed. Appropriate mitigations have since been incorporated to prevent recurrence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43415](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43415), registered now, S/N 7074, built 1946 (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: 7074 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 1407.3 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 7, 2023 - Departed: 1MT4, Whitefish, MT - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 58S, Whitefish Airport, runway 11, 2,560 × 75 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 540 total, 32 in this make and model, 457 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: KGPI, 6 nm away - METAR: METAR KGPI 231455Z 00000KT 6SM -SN OVC040 01/M03 A2999 RMK AO2 SNB32 SLP181 P0001 60001 T00061033 53023 ## 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 20231223019069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231223019069A), Dec 23, 2023: Taylorcraft BC12-D, Whitefish, MT, Substantial damage. On December 23, 2023 the pilot was landing at 58S. Prior to flight the pilot checked local NOTAMS and noticed that 58S had been closed, however the NOTAM… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193635. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16885506&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB_6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs final (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17390284&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA069%20Accident%20Photos%20Final-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16886277&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20For%20Record-Rel.pdf - Accident NOTAM information (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17390294&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA069%20Accident%20NOTAM%20Information-Rel.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.