Bede Aircraft BD-4 accident near Knightdale, North Carolina, March 18, 1982
On March 18, 1982 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Bede Aircraft BD-4, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N223LW, was destroyed in an accident near Knightdale, North Carolina (Wendell-Knightdale airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 1982 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Knightdale, North Carolina · Wendell-Knightdale
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bede Aircraft BD-4, amateur-built
- Registration
- N223LW · no longer on the register · serial 223
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT ON A LOW FINAL APPROACH FOR RUNWAY 19. THEY REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT THEN TURNED TO AN EASTERLY HEADING. ONE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE LEFT TURN APPEARED TO BE COORDINATED. THE OTHER WITNESS HEARD THE PILOT ADD POWER BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED FROM HIS VIEW BEHIND TREES. THE PLANE CRASHED ABOUT 1/2 MILE NORTH OF THE RUNWAY AND APPROXIMATELY 1000 FT EAST OF THE PROJECTED RUNWAY CENTERLINE. THE INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED WITH TREES AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 50 FT AGL. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 201 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 117 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Horsehead NY at 2:00 pm
- Destination: Rockledge FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,000 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 147°F (64°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.