Amateur-built S-1S accident near Paducah, Kentucky, September 14, 1985
On September 14, 1985 at about 9:27 pm local time, a amateur-built S-1S, registered N30BL, was destroyed in an accident near Paducah, Kentucky. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1985 · about 9:27 pm local time · cases in 1985
- Place
- Paducah, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S-1S
- Registration
- N30BL · registry record · serial L-2
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED IN THE LOCAL AREA FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. IT WAS PERFOMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS. ONE WITNESS REPORTED THAT IT WAS LOWER THAN IT USUALLY WAS WHEN IT WAS PERFOMING THESE MANEUVERS. IT WAS OBSERVED TO DO AN INSIDE LOOP, ROLL INVERTED AND THEN ENTER A VERTICAL CLIMB. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED OR THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN INVERTED SPIN. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT AFTER 3 OR 4 TURNS THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A FLAT SPIN. THE PILOT WAS WEARING A PARACHUTE BUT WAS FOUND STILL STRAPPED IN THE AIRCRAFT. IT IMPACTED INVERTED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 282 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 9, 1984; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAH Paducah KY at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from PAH, 5 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N30BL on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Lycoming HO-360-A1A 74 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Barkley Regional · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Kentucky 702 since 1982 · 111 in the last ten years
- Kentucky 2,978 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL85FA276.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.