Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newton, Iowa 50208
Sunday, May 9, 1999 10:05 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses reported that the aircraft was circling a relative's home between 500 and 800-feet above ground level. These witnesses said the airplane pitched up steeply, rolled to the left, then pitched down steeply. The witnesses said the airplane appeared to spin and then collided with the terrain in a steep nose down attitude. The on-scene investigation revealed flight control continuity and no anomalies with the engine that would prevent power development. The airplane was not equipped with a shoulder harness.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the failure of the pilot to maintain flying speed resulting in a stall and spin into the ground.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/9/1999
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1005
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City NEWTON
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50208
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 954 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 254
Weather Observation Facility ID DSM
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) 406
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11741
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 9 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2002 12:16PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N96876
NTSB Number CHI99FA147
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Taylorcraft
Aircraft Model BC-12D
Aircraft Series Identifier BC-12D
Aircraft Serial Number 9176
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1727
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name --
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name MARK F. CRISWELL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 25005 VALLEY DR.
Operator City BETTENDORF
Operator State IA
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code 52722
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code C95
Departure City EAST MOLINE
Departure State IL
Departure Country --
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City NEWTON
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 10 2002 10:09AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --