Accident Taylorcraft BC-12D N5187M, Saturday 14 November 1992

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Date:	Saturday 14 November 1992
Time:	15:40 LT
Type:	Taylorcraft BC-12D
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N5187M
MSN:	10487
Total airframe hrs:	1325 hours
Engine model:	Continental C-85-8
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Mariposa, CA - United States of America
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Merced, CA (KMCE)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PILOT SAID HE WAS ON APPROACH TO HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AND HE LET THE AIRCRAFT GET LOW AND SLOW. THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT WHICH THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AT THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY.

Probable Cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED MARGIN WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, AND, AFTER ENCOUNTERING A DOWN DRAFT, HIS FAILURE TO CORRECT THE RESULTING DESCENT RATE AND MAINTAIN A GLIDE PATH WHICH WOULD MAINTAIN OBSTACLE CLEARANCE.

Accident investigation: