Taylorcraft BC-12D accident near Newton, Iowa, May 9, 1999
On May 9, 1999 at about 3:05 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC-12D, registered N96876, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newton, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot to maintain flying speed resulting in a stall and spin into the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1999 · about 3:05 pm local time
- Place
- Newton, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC-12D · all BC-12Ds on the register
- Registration
- N96876 · no longer on the register · serial 9176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses reported that the aircraft was circling a relative's home between 500 and 800-feet above ground level. These witnesses said the airplane pitched up steeply, rolled to the left, then pitched down steeply. The witnesses said the airplane appeared to spin and then collided with the terrain in a steep nose down attitude. The on-scene investigation revealed flight control continuity and no anomalies with the engine that would prevent power development. The airplane was not equipped with a shoulder harness.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 925 hours in all; 865 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,727 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1998
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C95 East Moline IL
- Destination: Newton IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from DSM, 30 miles away
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.