Taylorcraft BC-65 N37611
18 June 1991 · Kakhonak, Alaska, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 18 June 1991 at about 23:26 local time, a Taylorcraft BC-65 registered N37611, operated by Robert Hester, was involved in an accident near Kakhonak, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:26
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Kakhonak, Alaska, United States
- Nearest airport
- Kakhonak (9K2)
- Coordinates
- 59.8594, -154.0298
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC-65
- Registration
- N37611
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Robert Hester
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Naknek
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC91LA076
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE UNCERTIFICATED PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AND THE PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT BY DRUGS (MARIJUANA) OF THE PILOT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE STALL WHICH WAS NOT IDENTIFIED BY THE NONRATED PILOT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE MADE A LEFT BANK, STALLED, AND CRASHED INTO THE LAKE APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS OFFSHORE. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT HOLD EITHER A FAA PILOT CERTIFICATE OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. TWO PASSENGERS WERE SITTING IN ONE SEAT; ONE PASSENGER WAS ON THE LAP OF THE OTHER. THE AUTOPSY REPORT SHOWED A HIGH LEVEL OF DRUG CANNABINOIDS (MARIJUANA) WHICH WOULD INDICATE THE PIC HAD BEEN SMOKING IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE CRASH. LEVELS FOUND WERE DELTA 9 C THC: 31 NG./ML; 11 HYDROXY DELTA 9 THC: 6.6 NG./ML.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Taylorcraft BC-65 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Aug 1992 | Taylorcraft BC-65 | Suffern, New York, United States | Paul K. Nozell | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 1990 | Taylorcraft BC-65 | Chehalis, Washington, United States | Dennis R. Sabin | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Aug 1989 | Taylorcraft BC-65 | Leonardtown, Maryland, United States | John F. Loftus | No injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 1988 | Taylorcraft BC-65 | Maiden, North Carolina, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 1995 | Taylorcraft BC-65 | Plato Center, Illinois, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 22 Feb 1985 | Taylorcraft BC-65 | Chinook, Montana, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 1991 | Piper PA-20 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Hickok, Bruce D. | No injuries | - |
| 22 May 1991 | David K Maxwell MAX-1 | Sutton, Alaska, United States | Stanley R. Dapkus | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Jan 1991 | Cessna 172G | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | Larry M. Driskill | No injuries | - |
| 2 Feb 1991 | Champion 7EC | Eagle River, Alaska, United States | Robert C. Bischoff | No injuries | - |
| 29 Mar 1991 | Cessna 206 | Homer, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-18-150 | Tatitlek, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |