Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Vancouver, Washington, May 11, 1995
On May 11, 1995 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N96202, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vancouver, Washington (Evergreen Field). It was an instructional 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
CARBURETOR HEAT WAS NOT USED AND AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S DIVERTED ATTENTION, AND CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1995 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Vancouver, Washington · Evergreen Field · 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
- N96202 · no longer on the register · serial 8502
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WHILE PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND DURING THE RESTART ATTEMPT, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED WHEN THE RIGHT WING DROPPED AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN A STALLED ATTITUDE. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR SERIOUS CARBURETOR ICING AT CRUISE OR CLIMB POWER.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 8,000 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 69 in the last 30 days; 19,600 as pilot in command; 19,400 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 15, 1995; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from PDX, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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 N96202 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.