Taylorcraft BC12-65 accident near Vernillion, South Dakota, April 5, 1998
On April 5, 1998 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-65, registered N34066, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vernillion, South Dakota (Harold Davidson Field). 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure (or inability) to properly compensate for wind conditions, while taxiing. Factors associated with the accident were: the sandy terrain, and the gusty tailwind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1998 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Vernillion, South Dakota · Harold Davidson Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-65 · all BC12-65s on the register
- Registration
- N34066 · registry record · serial 2930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed the airplane on runway 12, a gravel airstrip. He reported the winds were out of the south at 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots. He stated that after landing, the main landing gear contacted sand, while he was making a 180 degree turn to back taxi. The tail of the airplane rose, when the sand was contacted, and the wind caught the tail, resulting in the airplane nosing over.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 465 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 291 as pilot in command; 66 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,796 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 1997; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VMR at 3:24 pm
- Destination: VMR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 1,400 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.