Piper PA-28-180 and Taylorcraft BC-12D accident near Towanda, Pennsylvania, June 14, 1987
On June 14, 1987 at about 5:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-180 (N4889L) and Taylorcraft BC-12D (N43978), were involved in the same accident near Towanda, Pennsylvania (Towanda airport). No one was hurt; 3 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
- June 14, 1987 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Towanda, Pennsylvania · Towanda · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4889L · registry record · serial 28-4255
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Taylorcraft BC-12D · all BC-12Ds on the register
- Registration
- N43978 · registry record · serial 7637
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAXI TO RWY 22 FOR TAKEOFF, PIPER AIRCRAFT N4889L WAS STRUCK IN THE TAIL SECTION BY A TAYLORCRAFT, N43978 AS IT WAS ALSO TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF. THE PILOT OF THE TAYLORCRAFT STATED THAT THE PIPER CROSSED IN FRONT OF HIM WHILE THE PILOT OF THE PIPER CLAIMED HE WAS TAXIING PARALLEL TO THE RWY WHEN STRUCK BY THE TAYLORCRAFT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Taylorcraft BC-12D final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TAYLORCRAFT, N43978, COLLIDED WITH THE TAIL OF PIPER, N4889L WHILE BOTH WERE TAXIING TO RWY 22. THE PLT OF THE TAYLORCRAFT STATED THAT HE WAS TAXIING PARALLEL TO THE RWY AND THE PIPER CAME FROM BEHIND AND TO THE LEFT TO CROSS IN FRONT OF HIM. THE PLT OF THE PIPER STATED THAT HE WAS TAXIING PARALLEL TO THE RWY WHEN THE TAYLORCRAFT RAN INTO THE RIGHT REAR PART OF HIS ACFT.
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 for the Piper PA-28-180 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 166 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 128 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,495 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ELM Elmira NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Taylorcraft BC-12D from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 113 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 74 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 592 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 29, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
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.