Taylorcraft BL65 accident near Eloy, Arizona, May 30, 1988
On May 30, 1988 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BL65, registered N27463, was destroyed in an accident near Eloy, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT SPIRAL. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1988 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Eloy, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BL65 · all BL65s on the register
- Registration
- N27463 · registry record · serial 2105
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB, AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED OUT OF CONTROL SPIRALLING TO GROUND. PILOT HAD RESTORED THE AIRCRAFT AND HAD ONLY 12 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN MAKE AND MODEL. PILOT HAD FAILED HIS FIRST FLIGHT TEST FOR PRIVATE PILOT RATING 17 MONTHS PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. IMPROPER USE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS DURING STALL RECOVERY WAS CITED IN NOTICE OF DISAPPROVAL. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF PILOT RECEIVING FORMAL TRAINING IN ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL.
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: 103 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,177 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1988; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E60 Eloy AZ at 9:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from TUS, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.