Aviation Crash Map

Bede BD5B N533BD

21 August 1987 · Wilmington, Delaware, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 21 August 1987 at about 12:24 local time, a Bede BD5B registered N533BD was involved in an accident near Wilmington, Delaware, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 12:24
Classification
Accident
Location
Wilmington, Delaware, United States
Nearest airport
Greater Wilmington (ILG)
Coordinates
Not recorded
Aircraft
Bede BD5B
Registration
N533BD
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
BFO87DHD08

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR OBSTACLES LOCATED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN THE HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT'S PERFORMANCE WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN INITIAL TEST FLIGHT OF HIS HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT ACCELERATE, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB TO CLEAR OBSTACLES (TREES) OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TOP OF THE TREES AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT 'THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING GOOD, EVERYTHING SEEMED OK....AIRCRAFT HANDLED BEAUTIFULLY, BUT DID NOT ACCELERATE.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Bede BD5B accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
10 Feb 1975 Bede BD5B
N746BD
Littletown, Massachusetts, United States
no coordinates
- Serious injuries -

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
28 Mar 1987 Piper PA-34-200T
N2221E
Georgetown, Delaware, United States Seaboard Air Charter, Inc. Fatal 1
29 Mar 1987 Piper PA-23-250
N5216Y
Dover, Delaware, United States - No injuries -
16 May 1987 Cessna 150K
N5747G
Selbyville, Delaware, United States Atlantic Coastal Aerial ADS Minor injuries -
16 Oct 1987 Boeing A75N1
N53488
Milton, Delaware, United States Joseph R. Hudson No injuries -
29 May 1988 Cessna 177
N35253
Milford, Delaware, United States - Serious injuries -
1 Aug 1988 Cessna 150K
N5682G
Selbyville, Delaware, United States Atlantic Costal Aerial ADS No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States