Amateur-built BD-5B accident near Mckinleyville, California, April 13, 1984
On April 13, 1984 at about 9:32 pm local time, a amateur-built BD-5B, registered N42273, was destroyed in an accident near Mckinleyville, California (Arcata airport). 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
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
- April 13, 1984 · about 9:32 pm local time
- Place
- Mckinleyville, California · Arcata · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BD-5B
- Registration
- N42273 · registry record · serial 1749
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER THE ACFT TOOK OFF, WITNESSES OBSERVED IT ENTER A LEFT TURN, PITCH NOSE UP, THEN ENTER A ROLLING/VERTICAL DESCENT & IMPACT AT THE EDGE OF A SURF. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE & ENG REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT/PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. A TEST PLT REPORTED THAT IN SPIN TESTS AT 10,000 FT, THE ACFT REQUIRED UP TO 2000 FT FOR RECOVERY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 507 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 448 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 97 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 24, 1982; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 890 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Honda CIVIC EB3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACV Mckinleyville CA at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,998 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from ACV, 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.