Taylorcraft BC12-65 accident near Plentywood, Montana, April 13, 1997
On April 13, 1997 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-65, registered N33976, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plentywood, Montana (Sher-Wood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain control of the airplane. Factors relating to the accident included: the pilot's lack of recent experience in the tailwheel aircraft, his inadequate recurrent training, and rough/uneven terrain adjacent to the landing runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1997 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Plentywood, Montana · Sher-Wood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-65 · all BC12-65s on the register
- Registration
- N33976 · registry record · serial 2828
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing, the airplane bounced, and the pilot advanced the throttle to added power, but there was an initial hesitation in engine response. As power was regained, the right wing dropped and dragged the ground, turning the airplane to the right. The airplane then entered a wheat stubble field, struck a furrow, and flipped over. No evidence of mechanical problems was found during a postflight examination of the engine. The pilot, who had 213.5 hours total time including 12.8 hours in the accident aircraft, could not furnish evidence of a current biennial flight review or of required qualification to act as pilot-in-command of tailwheel aircraft. He had received 9.4 hours of dual flight instruction in the accident aircraft, but the most recent dual instruction with a certificated flight instructor was over two years before the accident. The president of the flying club that owned the aircraft, witnessed the accident. He stated he believed the hesitation in engine response was due to engine flooding as a result of excessively rapid throttle application by the pilot.
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: 214 hours in all; 13 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWD at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,150 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.