Taylorcraft BC-12D accident near Mariposa, California, November 14, 1992
On November 14, 1992 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC-12D, registered N5187M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mariposa, California (Private Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED MARGIN WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, AND, AFTER ENCOUNTERING A DOWN DRAFT, HIS FAILURE TO CORRECT THE RESULTING DESCENT RATE AND MAINTAIN A GLIDE PATH WHICH WOULD MAINTAIN OBSTACLE CLEARANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 1992 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Mariposa, California · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC-12D · all BC-12Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5187M · no longer on the register · serial 10487
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE WAS ON APPROACH TO HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AND HE LET THE AIRCRAFT GET LOW AND SLOW. THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT WHICH THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AT THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 713 hours in all; 366 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 641 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,325 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 23, 1992; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCE Merced CA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 1,073 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.