Amateur-built BD5TP accident near Byers, Colorado, March 15, 1995
On March 15, 1995 at about 9:06 pm local time, a amateur-built BD5TP, registered N777TK, was destroyed in an accident near Byers, Colorado. 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
FAILURE BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS WERE: LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF AIRCRAFT AND LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 1995 · about 9:06 pm local time
- Place
- Byers, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BD5TP
- Registration
- N777TK · registry record · serial 416
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE SECOND FLIGHT IN A RECENTLY PURCHASED HOMEBUILT EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT, THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO RETURN TO THE POINT OF ORIGIN AND WAS FOUND BURNED IN A PASTURE BY A RANCHER FEEDING HIS CATTLE. THE PILOT/OWNER WAS A PRIVATE PILOT WITH APPROXIMATELY 113 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME IN LIGHT SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT. HE HAD NO TURBINE, HIGH PERFORMANCE, OR RETRACTABLE LANDING GEAR AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCE. INVESTIGATION PROVIDED EVIDENCE THAT IMPACT OCCURRED IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, HIGH SINK RATE, WINGS LEVEL, CLEAN CONFIGURATION. ENGINE OPERATION AT THE TIME OF IMPACT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. WEATHER WAS VISUAL CONDITIONS.
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: 113 hours in all; 4 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Int Harvester T62T-2A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FTG Watkins CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from DEN, 30 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.