Taylorcraft BC12D accident near St. Mary, Montana, August 12, 1995
On August 12, 1995 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12D, registered N43597, was destroyed in an accident near St. Mary, Montana. 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 PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING IN HIGH, MOUNTAINOUS, TERRAIN. THE TERRAIN AND THE DOWNDRAFTS WERE FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1995 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- St. Mary, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12D · all BC12Ds on the register
- Registration
- N43597 · no longer on the register · serial 7256
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER PASSING OVER A HIGH MOUNTAIN RIDGE IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE DOWNDRAFTS. HE INITIATED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO A MEADOW. DURING THE APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT UNTIL IMPACTING THE TERRAIN AND NOSING OVER.
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: 204 hours in all; 183 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 147 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,235 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1995; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 58S Whitefish MT at 5:00 pm
- Destination: CTB Cut Bank MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from FCA, 31 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.
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.