Taylorcraft BL-65 accident near Easton, Missouri, October 8, 2011
On October 8, 2011 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BL-65, registered N27492, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Easton, Missouri (Private airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Debris in the fuel system, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Also causal was the pilot not maintaining sufficient airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2011 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Easton, Missouri · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BL-65 · all BL-65s on the register
- Registration
- N27492 · registry record · serial 2134
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The engine began to lose power during the initial climb after takeoff. The pilot elected to remain in the traffic pattern and return for landing; however, the engine subsequently lost power completely. The pilot prepared for a forced landing, but the airplane stalled about 20 feet above the ground and impacted a field. A postaccident examination revealed sufficient debris in the fuel system to restrict fuel flow to the carburetor. In addition, debris was observed in the individual gas containers used to fuel the airplane. The pilot reported that he used automotive gasoline and fueled the airplane from individual cans stored on site. Airplane maintenance records indicated that the most recent annual inspection was completed in June 2005. Regulations require an inspection to be completed within the preceding 12 calendar months.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
- Loss of control in flight during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Damaged/degraded
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Owner/builder
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Training › Recurrent instruct/training › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 669 hours in all; 503 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 623 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 18, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2005; 471 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-145B SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Easton MO at 11:10 pm
- Destination: STJ St Joseph MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from STJ, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N27492 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN12LA012.