Taylorcraft BC-12D accident near Seattle, Washington, September 23, 1988
On September 23, 1988 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC-12D, registered N96248, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seattle, Washington (Boeing Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- September 23, 1988 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · Boeing Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC-12D · all BC-12Ds on the register
- Registration
- N96248 · no longer on the register · serial 8548
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT RECEIVED ATIS INFO WHICH ADVISED OF GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AND LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR AND RECOMMENDED CONTACTING SEATTLE RADIO(FSS) FOR FURTHER INFO. PLT DID NOT CONTACT FSS AND INITIATED TAKEOFF. AT 100-200 FT AGL, ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE, PITCHED UP, ROLLED OFF ON A WING TO NOSEDOWN ATTITUDE AND COLLIDED WITH RUNWAY SURFACE. THE WINDS WERE GUSTING TO 18 KNOTS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,314 hours in all; 1,067 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,967 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 29, 1988; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: S43 Snohomish WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13L, 3,710 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:49 pm from BFI
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.