Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Ashland, Oregon, March 15, 1990
On March 15, 1990 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N39205, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ashland, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT DISPLAYED POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISIONS BY ALLOWING THE AIRPLANE'S SPEED TO DETERIORATE TO THE POINT THAT THE AIRPLANE STALLED. THE PILOT COULD NOT FULLY CORRECT THE SITUATION DUE TO A LOSS OF ALTITUDE AND INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE FROM THE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 1990 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Ashland, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N39205 · no longer on the register · serial 6459
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE AND HIS PASSENGER WERE SIGHTSEEING AS THE AIRPLANE WAS CLIMBING TO ALTITUDE. THE FLIGHT WAS PARALLELING A RIDGELINE THAT CONVERGED INTO A CANYON. WHEN THE AIRPLANE ATTAINED A SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE RIDGELINE, THE PILOT BEGAN A TURN TO THE RIGHT INTENDING TO COMPLETE A 180 DEGREE TURN. DURING THE TURN THE AIRPLANE STALLED. THE PILOT RECOVERED FROM THE STALL; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE LOST ENOUGH ALTITUDE THAT IT WAS NOW BELOW THE RIDGELINE. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TURN; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED OR ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN.
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: 270 hours in all; 205 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 220 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,510 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1990; 16 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: RDD Redding CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- 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.