NTSB Factual Report

On May 21, 2018, about 1910 eastern daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, N94909, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and terrain during the initial climb after takeoff from a private airstrip in Commerce, Georgia. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local, personal flight.

According to a witness, he saw the pilot conduct a preflight inspection of the accident airplane and depart on a 10 minute flight. When the airplane returned to the airstrip the witness heard the engine rpm "going up and down." The pilot landed and began taxiing towards the hangar, but then turned around and taxied the airplane back to the runway for another takeoff. The airplane reached an altitude about 50-75 ft above the runway. The airplane was slow and just above the trees when the right wing dropped, which was followed by the nose, and impact with trees. When the witness arrived at the accident site to assist the pilot he noticed fuel leaking and the starter motor was running.

The airplane was located in a wooded area, about 40 ft southeast of the departure end of runway 23. The airplane came to rest in a near vertical, nose down attitude about 97 feet from the point of initial impact with the top of a tree. The wreckage path was orientated on a magnetic heading of 245°. All components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. Flight control continuity was confirmed from all flight control surfaces to the cockpit controls. Leading edge damage was present on both wings. The right wing aft spar was fractured, both wings remained attached to the fuselage. One propeller blade was undamaged, the other blade was bent aft with chordwise scratching. A fuel smell was noted in the soil under the engine. Residual fuel was present in the fuselage tank.

The top spark plugs were removed from the engine for inspection. The electrodes were normal in wear and dark gray/black in color when compared to a Champion Check-A-Plug chart. The engine was rotated smoothly by hand-turning the propeller hub. Compression and suction was observed on all cylinders and valve action was correct. The magnetos were removed and spun with a power drill. Spark was observed on all leads on both magnetos. The carburetor was attached and appeared undamaged. The mixture and throttle control cables remained attached. All cockpit controls were in the forward positions.

The high-wing, single-engine, two-seat airplane incorporated a tailwheel landing gear. The airplane was equipped with a Continental A65, 65-horsepower reciprocating engine and a fixed-pitch Sensenich propeller. The airplane was built in 1946 and was purchased by the pilot on April 29, 2011. According to the most current aircraft logbook, an annual inspection was completed on November 17, 2017; the airplane accrued about 1.6 hours of flight time since the inspection.

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He also held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), he applied for a FAA second class medical certificate on June 28, 2007. At that time, he reported 9,400 hours of flight experience.

At 1851, the weather conditions reported at Athens/Ben Epps Airport (AHN), about 12 nautical miles south of the accident site included, wind calm, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 ft, temperature 25°C, dew point 23°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.09 inches of mercury.