Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Marble, Colorado, June 29, 2005
On June 29, 2005 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N44269, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marble, Colorado (Marble Airport). 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 pilot's improper decision to perform a go-around, and failure to maintain clearance from terrain and obstacles during a go-around. Factors contributing to the accident include the pilot's lack of recency of experience and lack of mountain flying experience, and the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2005 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Marble, Colorado · Marble Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N44269 · no longer on the register · serial 10069
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to several witnesses in the area, the pilot had been attempting to land to the west on a grass strip. The pilot had made approximately five attempts to land prior to the accident. During the sixth approach, the airplane touched down approximately midfield, the pilot added power and the airplane became airborne again. Witnesses stated that the airplane struck a road embankment at the end of the runway, continued in a steep climb, and then struck several 60-foot high aspen trees approximately 150 feet west of the end of the runway. The airplane rolled off hard to the right, and impacted the southbound lane of a county road in a nose low attitude. Airport elevation was approximately 7,800 feet mean sea level. Density altitude was calculated to be 10,063 feet. The airport runway is surrounded on every side by vegetation and terrain elevation rises dramatically in all directions. According to the owner of the airport, it is recommended that pilots land to the east and depart to the west due to the obstacles and terrain near the airport. The pilot had successfully completed a flight review on March 10, 2005.The pilot's logbook contained no record of flight activity between the flight review and the accident flight and no evidence of mountain flight experience or training. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.
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: 382 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 24 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,154 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2004; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SKX Taos NM at 5:30 pm
- Destination: Marble CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 280, 4,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from ASE, 18 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.