Amateur-built BD-5T accident near Cameron Park, California, July 14, 2001
On July 14, 2001 at about 2:45 pm local time, a amateur-built BD-5T, registered N104BD, was destroyed in an accident near Cameron Park, California. 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
an in-flight collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2001 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cameron Park, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BD-5T
- Registration
- N104BD · registry record · serial RL-0001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a low altitude erratic flight, the airplane dropped rapidly until it hit the shoulder of a freeway and burst into flames. The pilot had been flying the airplane for several months since he completed building it. He had taken off and was several miles from his home airport. Witnesses observed the airplane about 125 feet above ground level, and the whole airplane weaved up and down as well as left and right. The engine was loud and high-pitched, but the witnesses didn't think that the airplane was going very fast. They did not observe any smoke, flames, or pieces falling from the airplane. As the airplane flew over a highway, it banked hard to the right and lost altitude. The airplane turned parallel to the freeway, and the erratic movement increased. The terrain sloped down at this point, and the airplane continued downhill parallel to the slope. The airplane cleared power lines, but then dropped rapidly until it hit the shoulder of the freeway. The engine sounded like it was running until the airplane cleared the power lines, and then the engine sound died. The kit manufacturer reported that the pilot had been in contact with them while he constructed the airplane. He told them that his initial flights occurred in early May 2001. The flights went well, and he was happy with the airplane's performance. He did slow flight and landings on the first 2-hour flight. He moved the airplane to Cameron Park, but damaged the tailskid, landing gear, and prop when the control stick grip came off during the landing flare. The pilot repaired the airplane, and the manufacturer disassembled and inspected the propeller hub. The manufacturer replaced the actuating cam guide pins as a precaution. Investigators were unable to detect any anomalies during examination of the wreckage that could account for the accident.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 910 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Quantum H-95 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 061 Cameron Park CA at 2:40 pm
- Destination: 061 Cameron Park CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from MHR, 16 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.