N43220

Substantial
Minor

TAYLORCRAFT BC12-DS/N: 6879

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, September 4, 2011
NTSB Number
WPR11CA432
Location
Lancaster, CA
Event ID
20110906X05456
Coordinates
34.574443, -118.218612
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot’s inadequate flare resulting in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
TAYLORCRAFT
Serial Number
6879
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1946
Model / ICAO
BC12-DTAYB
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
BC12-D

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
NEAL ALAN B
Address
10287 WINESAP AVE
City
CHERRY VALLEY
State / Zip Code
CA 92223-4958
Country
United States

Analysis

The student pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) completed nine full stop landings. The wind was variable and increasing in intensity. As the airplane approached the runway, the left wing suddenly dropped at 15 feet above ground level, and the airplane veered left. It touched down hard on the left main landing gear, which collapsed. The right side then touched down hard, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airframe buckled below the cockpit. After exiting the airplane, the student pilot noted a strong tail wind. The student pilot’s total time was 40 hours.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR11CA432