Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Puget Bay, Alaska, September 13, 1993
On September 13, 1993 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N95608, was substantially damaged in an accident near Puget Bay, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, AND HIS MISJUDGING HIS ALTITUDE ABOVE THE WATER. A FACTOR WAS THE GLASSY WATER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1993 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Puget Bay, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N95608 · no longer on the register · serial 7908
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE ABOVE THE WATER WHILE ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH FOR A GLASSY WATER LANDING. AS HE MADE A MINOR HEADING CORRECTION IN ORDER TO LAND DIRECTLY INTO THE WIND, THE LEFT FLOAT HIT THE WATER. THE FLOATS WERE TORN FROM THE AIRPLANE WHICH SANK IMMEDIATELY. THE PILOT HAD NOT FILED A FLIGHT PLAN AND WAS NOT RESCUED UNTIL 9 DAYS LATER.
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
- Flight time: 627 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 609 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 18, 1992; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,351 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Eagle River AK at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.