Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Willow, Alaska, March 13, 1982
On March 13, 1982 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N5621M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willow, Alaska (Willow Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 1982 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Willow, Alaska · Willow Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5621M · registry record · serial 12021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS A STUDENT PILOT. SHE ASKED A PRIVATE PILOT TO ACCOMPANY HER AFTER SHE HAD SKIS INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT. SHE HAD BEEN INDORSED FOR SOLO FLIGHT IN THE AIRCRAFT, BUT HAD NO QUALIFIED INSTRUCTION ON SKI OPERATIONS. THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS UNDER THE OBSERVATION OF THE PRIVATE PILOT. WHILE TURNING FROM BASE TO FINAL APPROACH, THE STUDENT FELT SHE WAS NOT IN THE BEST POSITION FOR LANDING. SHE SAID THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND WHEN SHE ELECTED TO GO-AROUND. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE PLANE STALLED AND CRASH LANDED ON THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. A CURSORY EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 359 hours in all; 101 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 327 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,072 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,280 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-8-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z38 Willow AK at 12:00 pm
- Destination: Z38 Willow AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 1,500 ft by 105 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 2 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.