Taylorcraft BC-12D accident near Newport, Maine, July 1, 1989
On July 1, 1989 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC-12D, registered N43562, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newport, Maine. 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 AIRCRAFT FUEL SUPPLY WAS CONTAMINATED BY WATER AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1989 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Newport, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC-12D · all BC-12Ds on the register
- Registration
- N43562 · registry record · serial 7221
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS DEPARTING A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, ABOUT 25 TO 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE LOST POWER SUDDENLY. THE PILOT CHECKED THE FUEL SHUTOFF TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ON AND HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BY USING THE PRIMER. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART AND THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO THE TREES. THE SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S GASCOLATER WAS ONE-THIRD FULL OF WATER AND A SUBSEQUENT ENGINE RUN SHOWED NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES.
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: 250 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 196 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1989; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Newport ME at 10:00 pm
- Destination: 2B7 Pittsfield ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.