Taylorcraft BC/2D accident near Rangeley, Maine, September 8, 1991
On September 8, 1991 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC/2D, registered N95123, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rangeley, Maine (Rangley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER TAKEOFF PLANNING BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES DURING INITIAL CLIMB. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION NOT TO USE THE FULL LAKE SURFACE AVAILABLE FOR TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1991 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rangeley, Maine · Rangley
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC/2D
- Registration
- N95123 · no longer on the register · serial 9523
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT INITIATED A TAKEOFF ON A 3 MILES LONG LAKE WITH 2/3S OF IT BEHIND HIM. ONCE AIRBORNE, HE WAS UNABLE TO OUTCLIMB THE TERRAIN AND STRUCK TREES.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,950 as pilot in command; 2,300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 939 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1991; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Colchester VT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 15,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- 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.