Taylorcraft BCS-65 accident near Boulder, Colorado, August 21, 2009
On August 21, 2009 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BCS-65, registered N8023Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Boulder, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power during initial climb due to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2009 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Boulder, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BCS-65
- Registration
- N8023Q · registry record · serial 3135
- 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, the engine lost power shortly after takeoff. The pilot performed a forced landing to an adjacent field. During the forced landing the airplane was substantially damaged. An examination of the airplane, conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration, revealed no preaccident anomalies. According to the carburetor icing chart, the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel related during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 338 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 239 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 15, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,076 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 10, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KBDU Boulder CO at 3:00 pm
- Destination: KBDU Boulder CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 200,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from KBJC, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.