Taylorcraft BC12 65 accident near New Lisbon, Wisconsin, November 2, 2015
On November 2, 2015 at about 1:45 pm local time, a 1941 Taylorcraft BC12 65, registered N33939, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near New Lisbon, Wisconsin (Mauston-New Lisbon Union airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, resulting in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2015 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- New Lisbon, Wisconsin · Mauston-New Lisbon Union · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12 65 D, built 1941 · all BC12 65s on the register
- Registration
- N33939 · registry record · serial 2789
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, immediately after takeoff, the wind speed increased and he elected to complete one pattern and land. With a right quartering head wind, the pilot touched down yet reported that a wind gust made the airplane veer to the right side of the runway. He recalled that he applied full power and aborted the landing. The pilot reported that when he "looked out of the windshield", he realized the airplane was on a heading to impact the airfield hangars, so he turned the airplane to the left, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing strut and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. The wind at the nearest weather reporting station reported wind from 210 degrees true at 7 knots, with no gusts, and the departure runway heading was 14.
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
What happened, in order
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Loss of visual reference during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 610 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 557 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 14, 2015
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,095.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 1,874 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 82C New Lisbon WI at 1:40 pm
- Destination: 82C New Lisbon WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,688 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 1:58 pm from KVOK, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.