Taylorcraft BC12-D accident near Lancaster, California, September 4, 2011
On September 4, 2011 at about 3:56 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, registered N43220, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Lancaster, California (Gen William J Fox airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s inadequate flare resulting in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 2011 · about 3:56 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, California · Gen William J Fox · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12-D · all BC12-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N43220 · registry record · serial 6879
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot and certified flight instructor were practicing full stop landings. As the airplane approached the runway, about 15 feet above ground level, the left wing suddenly dropped, and the airplane veered left. The airplane touched down hard on the left main landing gear, which collapsed. The right side then touched down hard, and the right main landing gear collapsed. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the airframe buckled below the cockpit and was substantially damaged.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Damaged/degraded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Student pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Student pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 40 hours in all; 38 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,033 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A&C65 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WHP Pacoima CA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: WHP Pacoima CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 7,201 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KPMD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR11CA432.