Amateur-built Bede-4 accident near Omaha, Nebraska, November 13, 2004
On November 13, 2004 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Bede-4, registered N435BD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Omaha, Nebraska (North Omaha airport). 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 pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane resulting in a stall and spin, while on approach to land. Contributing factors were the airplane's low altitude and low airspeed at the time of loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2004 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Omaha, Nebraska · North Omaha · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Bede-4
- Registration
- N435BD · registry record · serial 435
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following a stall/spin while on approach to land. A witness reported he saw the airplane flying low in a southerly direction. He stated that he heard a loud noise and saw the airplane spiraling toward the ground, subsequently impacting the ground nose first. The accident site was located approximately 540 feet north of the approach end of runway 17. The airplane was oriented on a 040-degree magnetic heading. Debris was confined to the area immediately surrounding the aircraft. No impact marks in the terrain except for those in the immediate vicinity of the aircraft were observed. An individual who knew the accident pilot reported that he had the tendency to make "flat, skidding" turns, with little or no bank angle. A post-accident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any evidence of a pre-impact anomaly. Flight control continuity was verified from the control surfaces to the cabin area.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,200 hours in all; 264 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 20, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 264.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 22, 2003; 9.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3NO Omaha NE at 8:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,480 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.54 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from OMA, 7 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.