Accident Taylorcraft BC-12D N96857, Sunday 24 May 1987

You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.

Date:	Sunday 24 May 1987
Time:	19:00 LT
Type:	Taylorcraft BC-12D
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N96857
MSN:	9157
Total airframe hrs:	1500 hours
Engine model:	Continental C85-12F
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Soldotna, AK - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Soldotna, AK
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE 280 HOUR PRIVATE PILOT WAS OBSERVED DOING STEEPLY BANKED TURNS IN EXCESS OF 90 DEGREES, INSIDE LOOPS AND OTHER AEROBATIC MANEUVERS, PRIOR TO ENTERING A SPIN AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 1500 TO 2000 FEET. THE AIRPLANE COMPLETED APPROXIMATELY 8 TURNS PRIOR TO SPIN RECOVERY AND STRUCK TREES DURING THE PULL-UP PHASE OF THE RECOVERY. THE PILOT REMAINED CONSCIOUS AND WAS ABLE TO CRAWL AWAY FROM HIS BADLY DAMAGED AIRPLANE. A VIDEO CAMERA INSIDE THE AIRPLANE RECORDED THE AEROBATICS AND CRASH SCENARIO.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: