Opus Motorsports LLC BD02 accident near Dayton, Ohio, July 28, 2007
On July 28, 2007 at about 6:37 pm local time, a Opus Motorsports LLC BD02, registered N98MF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dayton, Ohio (James M Cox Dayton Intl airport). It was an air show or air race 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 not maintaining clearance from terrain during the aerobatic maneuver. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's restricted ability to see the terrain and the oil smoke present in the air show performer's box.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 2007 · about 6:37 pm local time
- Place
- Dayton, Ohio · James M Cox Dayton Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Opus Motorsports LLC BD02
- Registration
- N98MF · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident airplane was performing as part of a two-airplane act at an air show. While rolling level during a maneuver, the airplane impacted the terrain, skidded to a stop, and a post-impact fire ensued consuming the airplane. Smoke and haze consistent with the smoke oil used by the aerobatic performers obscured the performer's box. Winds were light at the time. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO 540 D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DAY Dayton OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,100 ft; a few clouds at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from DAY
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.