N43863

On May 25, 2000, about 2100 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Taylorcraft BC-12D airplane, N43863, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during an aborted takeoff from a private, gravel bar airstrip on the Tanana River, about 18 miles east of Nenana, Alaska, at 64 degrees, 40 minutes north latitude, 148 degrees, 30 minutes west longitude. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge, during a telephone interview on June 6, that he was making his seventh practice takeoff from the approximately 950 feet long by 45 feet wide landing area which was located at the bottom of a bluff. He indicated that the airplane did not become airborne after 500 feet, so he reduced the power to idle and applied full braking to stop. He said the airplane nosed over, damaging the tail, rudder, and wing struts. The pilot added that when he climbed out of the airplane, he realized the accident takeoff roll was downwind.