Taylorcraft BC12D accident near Carrizozo, New Mexico, November 13, 1988
On November 13, 1988 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12D, registered N43603, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carrizozo, New Mexico (Carrizozo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 1988 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Carrizozo, New Mexico · Carrizozo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12D · all BC12Ds on the register
- Registration
- N43603 · no longer on the register · serial 7262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PLT SAID HIS TAYLORCRAFT WAS SECURED TO THE RAMP BY 3 CHAINS. HE TRIED TO HAND START THE ENGINE, WITH NO ONE AT THE CONTROLS, AND THE THROTTLE FULL OPEN. THE ENGINE STARTED, THE ACFT BROKE THE RIGHT WING TIE DOWN RING, AND STRAIGHTENED AN 'S' HOOK ATTACHED TO THE LEFT WING. THE TAIL WHEEL CHAIN WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE TAIL WHEEL AND IT UNWRAPPED, RELEASING THE ACFT. IT BEGAN TO MOVE IN TIGHT LEFT CIRCLES. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO BOARD THE ACFT, BUT HE WAS KNOCKED DOWN. THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL PASSED OVER HIS LEFT LEG, BROKE IT, AND LEFT HIM LYING ON THE RAMP UNABLE TO STAND. THE ACFT CAME BACK TO THE PLT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE NEXT 10 MINUTES. THE PLT ROLLED AWAY TO AVOID FURTHER INJURY. THE ACFT STRUCK A PARKED AUTO, LEFT THE RAMP, HIT A VASI LIGHT, STRUCK A CULVERT, AND NOSED DOWN.
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: 900 hours in all; 695 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 1988; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:30 am
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.