Amateur-built BD-5 B accident near Ft. Levenworth, Kansas, July 8, 1992
On July 8, 1992, a amateur-built BD-5 B, registered N583BD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ft. Levenworth, Kansas (Sherman Aaf airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOLLOWING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND IN THE AIRCRAFT'S 'IGNITION KILL' ELECTRIC CIRCUIT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1992
- Place
- Ft. Levenworth, Kansas · Sherman Aaf · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BD-5 B
- Registration
- N583BD · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AFTER LOSING ENGINE POWER DURING FINAL APPROACH TO THE LANDING RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, STARTED HIS LANDING DESCENT AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. ABOUT 500 FEET AGL THE ENGINE TACHOMETER LOST ABOUT 200 RPM, THEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TOP OF A LEVY NEAR THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION THE WIRING FROM THE IGNITION SOURCE TO THE IGNITION KILL SWITCH WAS CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE SHORTED TO THE DECK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DEACTIVATING THE SINGLE IGNITION SYSTEM USED ON THIS 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,510 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 905 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1992; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 583 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,905 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from COU, 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.