Amateur-built BD-5 accident near Farmington, New Mexico, May 20, 1989
On May 20, 1989 at about 5:25 pm local time, a amateur-built BD-5, registered N71HM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmington, New Mexico (Four Corners Regional airport). 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 MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DUE TO A FAULTY CIRCUIT BREAKER. THE SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTED IN FAILURE OF THE ENGINE IGNITION SYSTEM AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1989 · about 5:25 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Farmington, New Mexico · Four Corners Regional · cases near this airport
- 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
- N71HM · registry record · serial 2061
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,680 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 2,650 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 60 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 25, 1989; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Honda EB-3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FMN Farmington NM at 6:25 pm
- Destination: FMN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:25 am from FMN
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N71HM on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Honda EB-3 · as the NTSB recorded it
- Four Corners Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in New Mexico 1,423 since 1982 · 184 in the last ten years
- New Mexico 3,114 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN89DQA01.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.