Bede Aircraft BD5B accident near Wilmington, Delaware, August 21, 1987
On August 21, 1987 at about 12:24 pm local time, a Bede Aircraft BD5B, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N533BD, was destroyed in an accident near Wilmington, Delaware (Greater Wilmington airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1987 · about 12:24 pm local time
- Place
- Wilmington, Delaware · Greater Wilmington
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bede Aircraft BD5B, amateur-built
- Registration
- N533BD · no longer on the register · serial 533
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.'
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
- Flight time: 141 hours in all; 1 in the last 90 days; 114 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, December 7, 1987; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 807 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Kawasaki T-C-440 -A2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 7,100 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:24 pm from ILG, 1 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.