Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Elkin, North Carolina, September 7, 1986
On September 7, 1986 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N44215, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elkin, North Carolina (Swan Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- September 7, 1986 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elkin, North Carolina · Swan Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N44215 · no longer on the register · serial 10015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT SAID HE HAD BEEN PERFORMING TAKE OFFS AND LANDINGS. ENGINE LOST RPM AT ABOUT 50 AGL. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO LAND ON THE SOD RWY WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING AND COLLAPSE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR. PLT SAID HE SUSPECTED CARBURETOR ICING. ICING PROBABLITY CURVE INDICATED THAT SERIOUS ICING AT GLIDE POWER WAS PROBABLE.
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: 239 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 194 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,275 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 5, 1986; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,120 ft by 180 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from HKY, 38 miles away
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.