Event ANC01LA082

Factual narrative

On April 15, 2001, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Taylorcraft BC12-D airplane, N43143, sustained substantial damage during a landing at the Talkeetna Airport, Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area instructional flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the student pilot/co-owner. The airline transport certificated pilot/certified flight instructor, and the student pilot, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Talkeetna Airport about 1530. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 10, 2001, the flight instructor reported that he was conducting touch and go landings with the student to runway 18 at Talkeetna. During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left, and departed the left side of the runway. The left main landing gear collided with a snow bank. The instructor said the airplane does not have any main gear brake pedals installed at the right seat position of the airplane. At the time of the conversation, the instructor said he did not know the extent of damage to the airplane. He said the accident occurred on May 1, 2001. On June 26, 2001, the flight instructor telephoned the NTSB office to report that the airplane had been inspected by a mechanic. The inspection revealed that the airplane required replacement of a portion of airframe longeron, about 6 inches aft of the left main gear attach point. The instructor indicated that the accident occurred on April 15th. The flight instructor submitted an NTSB Pilot/Operator report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) on July 20th. On that form, the date of the accident was listed as April 9, 2001. A few days later, the flight instructor telephoned the NTSB IIC and requested that the Pilot/Operator report be returned to him, stating it was only a draft. On August 2, 2001, a new Pilot/Operator report was received from the flight instructor, and the date of the accident was listed as May 8, 2001. The airline transport certificated pilot/certified flight instructor was conducting touch and go landings with a student pilot in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The instructor pilot was seated in the right seat. The instructor said the airplane does not have any main gear brake pedals installed at the right seat position. During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left, and departed the left side of the runway. The left main landing gear collided with a snow bank. A postaccident inspection revealed that the airplane required replacement of a portion of airframe longeron, about 6 inches aft of the left main gear attach point. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12