Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Atlantic, Pennsylvania, September 25, 2007
On September 25, 2007 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N39263, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atlantic, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 2007 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Atlantic, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N39263 · no longer on the register · serial 6517
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After completing the sale of the Taylorcraft BC-12D, the new owner, who was a private pilot, suggested to the previous student pilot owner that they fly the airplane. The student pilot got in the airplane and sat in the left seat and the private pilot occupied the right seat. After the student pilot did a preflight check and runup, they took off and joined the traffic pattern for landing. The approach was high. The airplane then touched down on the 2,000-foot grass strip and bounced. The student pilot initiated a go around; however, the airplane struck trees, decelerated, stalled, and then impacted the ground in a nose down attitude. The private pilot made no attempt to intervene.
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: 470 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 420 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 25 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,878.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Atlantic PA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,000 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from GKJ, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.