Amateur-built BD-4 accident near Rosemount, Minnesota, July 31, 1990
On July 31, 1990 at about 1:30 pm local time, a amateur-built BD-4, registered N853BF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rosemount, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE MANUFACTURER (AMATEUR BUILT) TO DESIGN FUEL SYSTEM ADEQUATELY TO PREVENT VAPOR LOCK IN FUEL LINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1990 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rosemount, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BD-4
- Registration
- N853BF · registry record · serial 445
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON VFR DOWNWIND FOR LANDING THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LAND ON THE AIRPORT AND SELECTED A CORN FIELD FOR LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED ON CONTACT WITH THE CROPS. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO VAPOR LOCK IN THE FUEL LINE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE PILOT/OPERATOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER OF THE AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 397 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,600 as pilot in command; 1,816 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 90 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 25, 1990; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ford 230 V6A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 1 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 86°F (30°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.