Amateur-built BD-4 accident near Woods Cross, Utah, August 23, 1985
On August 23, 1985 at about 12:50 pm local time, a amateur-built BD-4, registered N711JK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woods Cross, Utah. 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
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
- August 23, 1985 · about 12:50 pm local time
- Place
- Woods Cross, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BD-4
- Registration
- N711JK · no longer on the register · serial 421
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED AFTER THE ENG QUIT DURING TAKEOFF. THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND OFF THE ARPT IN A LEFT DESCENDING BANK WHICH COLLAPSED THE LEFT LNDG GEAR. INVESTIGATION REVEALED CORROSION OF THE CARBURETOR FLOAT BOWL. THE PLT WAS USING AUTO FUEL. THE FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOR LEAKS.THE PLT SAID THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO DRAIN ALL FUEL WITH THE DRAINS AS INSTALLED. THERE WERE NO FUEL DRAINS IN THE OUTBOARD SECTION OF THE WING TANKS, WHICH IS THE LOWEST POINT IN THE FUEL TANKS.
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
- Flight time: 860 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 600 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTL Woods Cross UT
- Destination: BTL Woods Cross UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:50 am
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.