Amateur-built BABY ACE accident near Lexington, Kentucky, August 18, 1983
On August 18, 1983 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built BABY ACE, registered N6381T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lexington, Kentucky (Blue Hawn 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 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
- August 18, 1983 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lexington, Kentucky · Blue Hawn · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BABY ACE
- Registration
- N6381T · registry record · serial PK-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING LANDING ON THE MAIN WHEELS OF THE TAIL WHEEL ACFT. THE PILOT REPORTED ADDING POWER DURING THELANDING ROLL WHEN THE NOSE STARTED TO TUCK. HE WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER USING POWER AND ELEVATOR. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MATERIAL OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 487 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 341 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 621 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cynthiana KY at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 31, 2,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:47 pm from LEX
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.