Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near West Jordan, Utah, April 16, 2003
On April 16, 2003 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N43591, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Jordan, Utah (Salt Lake City Municipal 2 airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the dual student's failure to maintain aircraft control and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student. A contributing factor was the unfavorable wind gust.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2003 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- West Jordan, Utah · Salt Lake City Municipal 2 · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N43591 · no longer on the register · serial 7250
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot receiving instruction was practicing touch-and-go landings. After making a three-point landing, he added power and raised the tail off the ground to takeoff attitude. At 60 mph, he eased back and the airplane lifted off. After climbing about 10 feet, a gust of wind lifted the left wing. The instructor took control and applied full left rudder and aileron. The airplane encountered another wind gust and struck a runway light and sign. The wing spar was broken and the main landing gear was damaged.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 656 hours in all; 242 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 587 as pilot in command; 46 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 18, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 127 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 63 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 7, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,886 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 14, 2003; 66 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: U42 West Jordan UT at 9:30 pm
- Destination: U42
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,860 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from SLC, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.