N95250

On June 10, 2000, about 2200 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Taylorcraft BC12-D airplane, N95250, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a remote site, about 15 miles northeast of Ninilchik, Alaska, at latitude 60 degrees, 01 minutes north, and longitude 151 degrees, 35 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot, and the one passenger aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1900, at the Soldotna Airport, Soldotna, Alaska.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on June 10, the pilot reported that he was attempting a westerly departure from a 600 feet long remote airstrip. He said that during the takeoff run, the airplane veered to the left of the narrow airstrip. He added that upon rotation, the main wheels hit a series of soft bumps, and the airplane became airborne before a safe flying speed could be reached. He said that the airplane continued to fly beyond the end of the airstrip, and then settled. The main wheels contacted soft tundra, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.

The pilot noted in his written report to the NTSB that wind conditions at the time of the accident were from 090 degrees, at 3 knots.