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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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June 17, 2019 · Taylorcraft BC12 D · N43766

Readington, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 17, 2019
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Readington, NJ
Aircraft
Taylorcraft BC12 D (1946)
Tail Number
N43766
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA19LA199

The pilot performed two landings on a turf runway and returned for a third approach. The pilot aligned the airplane parallel to the intended runway, about 80 feet to the left of the mowed runway surface. The airplane touched down in dense grass about 3-4 feet tall and travelled about 80 feet before it nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot insisted that the brakes had "locked;" however, examination of the airplane revealed that with the brakes fully applied there was little to no braking action and that the airplane rolled with little to no resistance. The accident is consistent with the airplane nosing over due to the landing in tall grass.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to land on the mowed turf runway, which resulted in the airplane landing in tall grass and subsequently nosing over.

Full Narrative

On June 17, 2019, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12, N43766, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Solberg-Hunterdon Airport N51, Readington, New Jersey. The pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot reported that he departed N51 and performed some "air work" before returning to the airport for practice landings on runway 13 in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. Runway 13 was a mowed, turf runway, which was 3,444 feet long and 200 feet wide. The pilot performed two landings to runway 13 and completed a traffic pattern to perform a third landing. During the third approach, instead of aligning with the runway, the airplane touched down about 80 feet left of the mowed surface in dense grass that was between 3-4 feet tall. The ground track revealed the airplane travelled about 80 feet before it nosed over, came to rest inverted, and substantially damaged the rudder. In a telephone interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot stated that the brakes "locked," which caused the nose-over event. He stated that he was not aware of the height and thickness of the grass, as he believed he had landed on the runway. The pilot added that the landing surface was not a factor and insisted that the airplane's brakes had locked.Not necessary to support analysis and PC, and data contained within the data blocks. FAA inspectors examined the airplane at the accident site and later tested the brakes on the airplane after its recovery. With the brakes applied, the left-side braking action was "weak," and the right side had no braking action. When asked if it was possible to lock the brakes, the airworthiness inspector said, "Not at all." He added that with the brakes fully applied in the cockpit and when pushed by hand at the tail, the airplane rolled on both main landing gear tires with little to no resistance.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 EDT
Nearest AirportSolberg-Hunterdon (0nm NE)
Runway13
Runway Length3444 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftTaylorcraft BC12 D
Tail NumberN43766
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · A65-8F · Reciprocating · 65
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 71 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 8500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter29.96 inHg
Observation Time20:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data