Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Hillsboro, Missouri, March 25, 2023
On March 25, 2023 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1946 Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N43272, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Hillsboro, Missouri (Private Strip On Owner'S Land airport). 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 failure to maintain clearance from trees during final approach to landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 2023 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Missouri · Private Strip On Owner'S Land · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D, built 1946 · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N43272 · registry record · serial 6931
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while on final approach, the right wing of the airplane struck the top of a tree about 40 feet above ground level. This resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control at an altitude too low to allow for recovery. The airplane impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 518 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: July 13, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,516.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,280 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A&C65 SERIES (piston); 587 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KFAM Farmington MO
- Destination: Hillsboro MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from KFAM, 27 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFAM 252256Z AUTO 30004KT 10SM CLR 16/02 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP118 T01560022
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 27, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.