Amateur-built BD-5B accident near Bessemer, Alabama, April 17, 2002
On April 17, 2002 at about 4:45 pm local time, a amateur-built BD-5B, registered N727BD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bessemer, Alabama (Bessemer Alabama airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare that resulted in a hard landing and the fracture of the left main landing gear casting.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2002 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bessemer, Alabama · Bessemer Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BD-5B
- Registration
- N727BD · registry record · serial 984
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a visual approach to runway 5 at 110 to 120 mph with gear down and the flaps half extended, the pilot executed a touchdown on the left main first in a light crosswind. Upon touchdown, the airplane immediately dropped left and veered left, and the pilot had no directional control. The airplane veered off the runway, over an embankment, and into trees. Examination of the wreckage revealed the left main wheel was separated from the gear leg, the left stabilator was bent, and the right wing displayed leading edge damage. The aluminum casting of the left main landing gear, part number LG93, was fractured and showed no evidence of previous damage or cracks.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,760 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 4,700 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 20, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 2001; 10 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Honda EB-3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EKY Bessemer AL at 4:15 pm
- Destination: EKY Bessemer AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 999° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from BHM, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.