Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Albion, Michigan, November 17, 2002
On November 17, 2002 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N5066M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albion, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A failure by the pilot to maintain sufficient airspeed while maneuvering. Contributing factors were the resulting stall/spin, the relatively low altitude and the soft terrain encountered.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 2002 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Albion, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5066M · no longer on the register · serial 10366
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported making several patterns in the local area at 500~800 feet agl. After the last pass, the pilot stated that he entered a left turn and inadvertently stalled the airplane. As the airplane began to enter a spin, he notes that he "took corrective action to regain control of the aircraft.". Although he reported recovering from the stall/spin, he was unable to arrest the resulting descent. The airplane impacted a soft, muddy field in a relatively level attitude.
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: 476 hours in all; 442 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 4, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,665 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 2002; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A&C 65 Series (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N/A Albion MI at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from JXN, 11 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.