Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Mayville, New York, June 13, 2006
On June 13, 2006 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N96486, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mayville, New York (Dart Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's improper decision to attempt a simulated engine failure at a low altitude and her failure to maintain clearance from trees and wires, while maneuvering. Also causal was the flight instructor's impairment from prescription medication.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2006 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mayville, New York · Dart Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N96486 · no longer on the register · serial 8786
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot initiated a takeoff, and as the airplane reached an altitude of 200 to 600 feet, the CFI "pulled the power" to simulate an engine failure. The student pilot "shoved" the nose of the airplane down, assured the airspeed was 60 mph, and initiated a "gentle" left turn. While the airplane was turning, the student pilot noticed the CFI was "preoccupied" with something on the instrument panel. Shortly after, the CFI took control of the airplane, and stated, "I'll fly now." The airplane then struck power lines and trees, and impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. The pilot had been treated for chronic back pain for approximately 10 years, and had become addicted to pain medication. Additionally, she suffered from severe abdominal symptoms, likely caused by her dependence on narcotics. During the 4 years preceding the accident, the pilot was prescribed multiple narcotics to treat her pain. At the time of the accident, the pilot was regularly filling prescriptions for fentanyl (an imparing narcotic) patches and carisoprodol (a sedative muscle relaxant) at least every four weeks. She was also taking gabapentin (an anti-seizure medication, also used to treat chronic pain), and fFluconazole (a prescription n antifungal medication prescribed 8 days prior to the accident, which had the potential to substantially interfere with the metabolism of fentanyl). The pilot was found wearing fentanyl patches in excess of the amount prescribed. Postaccident toxicology testing performed on the pilot revealed fentanyl, carisoprodol, fluconazole, and gabapentin was detected in the pilot'sin her blood and urine. The level of fentanyl detected in the pilot's blood was several times the maximum expected from typical use of doses prescribed. The pilot had not noted her narcoctic dependence or use of any medications other than ibuprofen, on her applications for airmen medical certification. If they had been reported, the certificate would have been denied.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 4 hours in all; 4 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D79 Mayville NY at 4:10 pm
- Destination: D79 Mayville NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,750 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,900 ft; scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from JHW, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.