Amateur-built BD-5 accident near Sugar Grove, Illinois, October 27, 1983
On October 27, 1983 at about 11:22 pm local time, a amateur-built BD-5, registered N99555, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sugar Grove, Illinois. 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
- October 27, 1983 · about 11:22 pm local time
- Place
- Sugar Grove, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BD-5
- Registration
- N99555 · no longer on the register · serial 455S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HAD RECEIVED AN INSPECTION ON 9/8/83, BEFORE IT WAS DISASSEMBLED & TRANSPORTED FROM CALIFORNIA TO ILLINOIS. ON 10/27/83, THE PLT TOOK OFF ON A FLT FROM SANDWICH TO AURORA, IL. WHILE ON A FINAL APCH TO LAND AT AURORA, AFTER A THROTTLE REDUCTION, THE ENG CEASED OPERATING. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENG WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, SO THE PLT LANDED ON A ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE ACFT ON THE ROAD DUE TO A BEND IN THE ROAD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CROSSED A CURB & STRUCK A MAIL BOX. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED SEVERAL DISCREPANCIES CONCERNING THE CARBURETOR. THESE INCLUDED A WRONG SIZE OF THE INLET FITTING, PRIMARY VENTURI OUT OF POSITION, MAIN FUEL DISCHARGE NOZZLE BENT, MAIN JET OVERSIZED, & A LEAKY GASKET.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 4,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 8, 1983; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Honda EB-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Sandwich IL at 11:00 pm
- Destination: Sugar Grove IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from ARR, 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.