Taylorcraft BC12 D accident near Libby, Montana, August 17, 2015
On August 17, 2015 at about 1:15 am local time, a 1946 Taylorcraft BC12 D, registered N43616, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Libby, Montana (Libby airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2015 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Libby, Montana · Libby · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12 D D, built 1946 · all BC12 Ds on the register
- Registration
- N43616 · registry record · serial 7275
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that, during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot used both brake and rudder inputs in an effort to return to the runway centerline; however, despite the pilot's attempts to regain directional control, the airplane continued off the left side of the runway and ground looped. Postaccident examination of the left landing gear and braking system revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,136 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,241.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 2015; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors C85-8F (piston); 2,523 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Yaak MT
- Destination: S59 Libby MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,003 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 am from K65S, 42 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.