Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Corcoran, California, August 15, 1997
On August 15, 1997 at about 2:30 am local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N96294, was destroyed in an accident near Corcoran, California. 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 failure to maintain separation from ground obstacles.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1997 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Corcoran, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N96294 · no longer on the register · serial 8594
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was observed by an eyewitness to be flying at the same altitude as a set of unmarked electric power transmission lines. The eyewitness stated he heard the aircraft contact the lines and then observed the airplane descend and collide with the ground in a nose down attitude. The engine sounds were constant until the collision with the wire. The electric company measured the power lines and stated they were about 30 feet above the ground strung between poles 243 feet apart. A personal associate of the pilot stated that the pilot enjoyed flying low and slow, but added he usually respected the distance requirements regarding aircraft to property separation. Sunset occurred about 20 minutes after the accident.
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: 336 hours in all; 336 in this make and model; 10 in the last 30 days; 304 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1997; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O18 Hanford CA at 7:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 am from VIS, 17 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.