Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Gold Hill, North Carolina, July 8, 2006
On July 8, 2006 at about 7:13 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N96758, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gold Hill, North Carolina (Gold Hill Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while doing a go around, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, loss of control and in-flight collision with the ground. A factor was the pilot's lack of recent experience in the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 2006 · about 7:13 pm local time
- Place
- Gold Hill, North Carolina · Gold Hill Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N96758 · no longer on the register · serial 9058
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, on the first landing attempt he was going to do a three point landing. On touchdown the airplane "darted" to the left. He then came back across the runway going toward the right side, but got it airborne before it could go off the runway. He climbed out and continued in the pattern for another landing. He said he wanted to get the airplane on the ground to try and find out why it darted to the left. His second landing attempt was going to be another three point landing. On touchdown the airplane darted to he right. The airplane was angled toward a two story house. He then pulled the control wheel aft to keep it on the ground and "ride it out." He said that was a mistake because the airplane then bounced. He pushed the nose over and he thinks he had some power on. When he saw that he would hit the house if he continued, he added full power and pulled back to climb. The airplane then stalled and the right wing dropped and he crashed. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found no mechanical problems with the aircraft structure, flight controls, or engine. A review of the pilot's log book found that the pilot total flight time in all aircraft was 346 hours. The pilot received his tail wheel endorsement August 2, 1998, and had accumulated a total of 48 hours since that endorsement. At the time of the accident, the pilot had logged 3.5 hours of total flight time since January of 2006.
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: 346 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,540 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A&C65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NC25 Gold Hill NC at 7:13 pm
- Destination: NC25 Gold Hill NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from INT, 37 miles away
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.