Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Wakefield, New Hampshire, August 20, 1983
On August 20, 1983 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N96755, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wakefield, New Hampshire. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1983 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wakefield, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N96755 · registry record · serial 9055
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE TAXIED OUT OF A PROTECTED COVE TO TAKEOFF ON THE MAIN PART OF BALCH LAKE. AFTER LIFT-OFF, HE REALIZED THE WIND WAS TOO GUSTY TO BE FLYING, & ABORTED FROM APRX 30 TO 40 FT AGL. HE SAW TELEPHONE WIRES AHEAD THAT CROSSED THE LAKE & DESCENDED FASTER THAN NORMAL TO ASSURE A LANDING BEFORE THE ACFT GOT TO THE WIRES. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FLOAT PLANE LANDED HARD & THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT FAILED. HOWEVER, THE ACFT REMAINED AFLOAT & WAS LATER TOWED TO THE SHORE.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 610 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 1,278 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Wakefield NH at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.