Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Crescent City, Florida, April 2, 2002
On April 2, 2002 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N43615, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crescent City, Florida (Pomona Landing 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
Tfhe failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during takeoff roll, resulting in an excursion off the left side of the runway and collision with an adjacent hangar.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2002 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Crescent City, Florida · Pomona Landing Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N43615 · registry record · serial 7274
- 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, as soon as he lifted the tail wheel off the ground during takeoff, the right wing lifted, he lost directional control, and the aircraft ran off the left side of the grass runway, into an adjacent hangar. He stated that no mechanical irregularities, or surface wind conditions were a factor in the accident. Postcrash investigation by an FAA inspector confirmed that mechanical malfunction was not a factor.
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: 355 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 355 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 15, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,960 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 30, 2002; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,440 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 78FL Crescent City FL at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from DAB, 27 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.