Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Anchorage, Alaska, July 20, 1983
On July 20, 1983 at about 3:20 am local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N95261, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Campbell Lake 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
- July 20, 1983 · about 3:20 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Campbell Lake · 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
- N95261 · no longer on the register · serial 9661
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE TOOK OFF TO THE SOUTHEAST INTO A WIND OF 10 GUSTING 15 KTS. AFTER LIFT-OFF, HE TURNED TO AVOID HOUSES ON THE SOUTHEASTERN SHORELINE. AFTER HE WAS IN A LEFT CLIMBING TURN, THE ACFT BEGAN DESCENDING TOWARD THE LAKE. TO AVOID STALLING, THE PLT LOWERED THE NOSE TO GAIN AIRSPEED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE IMPACTED IN SHALLOW WATER WHILE IN A NOSE LOW, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE PLT STATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES ACCORDING TO OTHER PLTS THAT FREQUENTLY OPERATED FROM THE LAKE, THERE WERE OCCASSIONAL DOWNDRAFTS ON THE LEE SIDE OF THE HILL NEAR THE SOUTHEASTERN SHORELINE.
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; single-engine sea
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Anchorage AK
- Destination: King Lake AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.