Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Decatur, Michigan, July 18, 2000
On July 18, 2000 at about 1:00 am local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N5080M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Decatur, Michigan (Private 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 left main landing gear brake was locked during landing. A factor associated with the accident was the uneven terrain on which the landing was made.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2000 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Decatur, Michigan · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5080M · no longer on the register · serial 10380
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane nosed over on landing at a private, grass airstrip. The pilot reported that just after touchdown, the airplane suddenly nosed over. He reported that after the accident, he noted a long skid mark in the grass from the left main gear that lead up to the point where the airplane nosed over. Investigation revealed the grass airstrip contained bare areas where the grass had died. The tire marks in the grass showed the airplane was sliding during the landing roll and it nosed over when it contacted one of the bare areas. The left main wheel brake was found locked up after the accident.
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: 322 hours in all; 312 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 322 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,748 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 2000; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,300 ft by 140 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N5080M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.