Amateur-built TAYLOR BIRD accident near Humboldt, Iowa, October 5, 1997
On October 5, 1997 at about 8:15 pm local time, a amateur-built TAYLOR BIRD, registered N12121, was substantially damaged in an accident near Humboldt, Iowa (Humboldt Municipal Apt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot-in-command to attain airspeed and maintain control of the aircraft, resulting in a stall/mush.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 1997 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Humboldt, Iowa · Humboldt Municipal Apt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TAYLOR BIRD TAYLOR BIR
- Registration
- N12121 · registry record · serial 09
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In a written statement, the pilot said that he completed a run-up and checked the flight controls prior to takeoff from runway 30 (3400'x 60'.) The airplane lifted off after a ground roll of approximately 2000'. The pilot then stated that his flight controls didn't seem to be working. Shortly thereafter, the airplane banked to the right and pitched down, causing the right wing and nose to contact the runway. The airplane then slid onto the grass where it struck a runway marker light, coming to rest facing the opposite direction of intended travel. The pilot stated that it 'was a ground effect stall
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 2 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 10, 1997; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru 1600CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0K7 at 8:15 pm
- Destination: 0K7
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,400 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:14 pm from FOD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 CHI98LA015.