Taylorcraft BC-12D accident near Gibson Island, Maryland, February 23, 1992
On February 23, 1992 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC-12D, registered N96023, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gibson Island, Maryland. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE WITH WATER, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH WATER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DESCEND WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1992 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Gibson Island, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC-12D · all BC-12Ds on the register
- Registration
- N96023 · no longer on the register · serial 8323
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE HAD DESCENDED OUT OF 1200 MSL TO 350 FEET INDICATED OVER A RIVER. HE WAS FOLLOWING THE RIVER IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION AND STARTED A TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT SAID, '... I WAS LOOKING TO THE LEFT IN THE TURN WHEN I HEARD THE AIRPLANE STRIKE THE WATER.'
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: 402 hours in all; 286 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 402 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,226 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1991; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AND Annoplis MD at 2:30 pm
- Destination: MD43 Lakeshore MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.