Amateur-built BEDE BD-5B accident near Elkhart, Indiana, September 14, 1985
On September 14, 1985 at about 2:40 pm local time, a amateur-built BEDE BD-5B, registered N23105, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elkhart, Indiana. 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1985 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Elkhart, Indiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BEDE BD-5B
- Registration
- N23105 · registry record · serial 1950
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT ROLLED INVERTED & COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AFTER AN OVERTEMPERATURE READING, AN RPM LOSS AND LOSS OF AIRSPEED WERE RECOGNIZED BY THE PLT DURING THE RECORDING OF THE TAKEOFF. THE PLT HAD A PORTABLE RECORDER ON BOARD AND WAS USING IT DURING THE TAKEOFF. HE SAID THE 195 DEGREE TEMPERATURE WAS 'NO BIG DEAL' BUT THEN NOTED A DROP IN AIRSPEED AND STOPPED TALKING. THE RECORDER KETP OPERATING UNTIL THE CRASH AND RECORDED AN RPM REDUCTION TO NEARLY IDLE. POST ACC EXAM NOTED SCORING & BLUEING OF #1 & 2 CYLINDER WALLS INDICATING OVERHEATING & POSSIBLE SEIZURE OF THE ENG. FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ENG & FUEL LINES.
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: 183 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 144 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 25 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 16, 1985; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 660 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Omc 75ER79 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:44 pm from SBN, 15 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.