Event LAX97LA308

Factual narrative

On August 31, 1997, at 0950 hours Pacific daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC-12D, N4459P, was substantially damaged when it collided with the runway and drug the right wing tip. The aircraft then ground looped to the right off the runway. The aircraft was landing at the Fly Ranch, 20 miles north of Gerlach, Nevada, at the time. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The pilot stated that the airplane had insufficient power to compensate for an increased sink rate on short final. A witness on the ground saw the wings rocking from side to side when the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 40 feet, followed by a sudden veer to the left and an increase in sink rate prior to impact with the ground. The passenger, who was not a pilot, reported that "we were crabbing and I thought he [the pilot] was pulling out" just prior to the ground collision. The aircraft collided with the runway and drug the right wing tip during a landing attempt. The aircraft then ground looped to the right off the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane had insufficient power to compensate for an increased sink rate on short final. A witness on the ground saw the wings rocking from side to side when the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 40 feet, followed by a sudden veer to the left and an increase in sink rate prior to impact with the ground. The passenger, who was not a pilot, reported that 'we were crabbing and I thought he [the pilot] was pulling out' just prior to the ground collision. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12