Taylorcraft 12-m accident near Selma, California, August 1, 2015
On August 1, 2015 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1943 Taylorcraft 12-m, registered N49153, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Selma, California (Selma airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot receiving instruction's use of an excessive pitch attitude during takeoff with the airplane near its maximum gross weight in hot and humid conditions, which degraded the airplane’s climb performance and resulted in a collision with obstacles during an off-airport landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2015 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Selma, California · Selma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft 12-m, built 1943
- Registration
- N49153 · registry record · serial 5320
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot receiving instruction and flight instructor departed the airport area, practiced basic maneuvers, and then returned to the airport to practice takeoffs and landings. The pilot receiving instruction successfully completed five full-stop landings. The flight instructor reported that, during the sixth takeoff, the tail came up a bit slower but not at an abnormal rate. He added that, at liftoff, the airplane's pitch attitude was a bit higher than during the previous liftoffs and that the airplane was not climbing. As the flight instructor adjusted his position to see out the front windscreen, the airplane contacted the runway and then bounced. He determined that there was insufficient runway to land and stop the airplane, so he held the throttle in the full-power position to ensure that the pilot receiving instruction did not try to abort the takeoff. He maintained wings level and lowered the nose as much as possible until the airplane cleared a ditch and then touched down in a vineyard. The airplane contacted the ground in a level attitude, turned sharply 90 degrees, and then travelled about 30 ft before stopping. The pilot receiving instruction reported that it was hot and humid, that the wind conditions were variable, and that the airplane was near its maximum gross weight. He added that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the combined effects of the pilot's use of an increased pitch attitude, the airplane's near maximum gross weight, and the environmental conditions degraded the airplane's climb performance.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum weight › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High temperature › Effect on equipment
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 53 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 5, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,434 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 18, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,590 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,325 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor 9-170-3 (piston); 573 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0Q4 Selma CA
- Destination: 0Q4 Selma CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 2,490 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KFAT, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 4, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Instructor Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.