Taylorcraft BC-12-D accident near Naches, Washington, June 2, 1991
On June 2, 1991 at about 9:32 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC-12-D, registered N39976, was destroyed in an accident near Naches, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IN FLIGHT PHYSICAL INCAPACITATION OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1991 · about 9:32 pm local time
- Place
- Naches, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC-12-D · all BC-12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N39976 · no longer on the register · serial 6635
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACRFT ABRUPTLY PITCHED NOSE DOWN DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A LAKE, DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED AND IMPACTED WATER. THE POST ACCIDENT MEDICAL EXAM OF THE PILOT REVEALED THE PILOT DIED AS A RESULT OF A STROKE.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,341 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 1,282 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,351 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Naches WA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: NONE Gig Harbor WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 27.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from YKM, 25 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N39976 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.