Amateur-built BD-4 accident near Somerton, Arizona, June 26, 1993
On June 26, 1993 at about 1:20 pm local time, a amateur-built BD-4, registered N2849, was substantially damaged in an accident near Somerton, Arizona (Rolle Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE SECOND PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE FROM THE RUNWAY WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNDERSHOOT, AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION IN NOT TAKING TIMELY CORRECTIVE ACTION. IN ADDITION, NEITHER PILOT HAD ANY EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE, AND THE SECOND PILOT HAD NOT FLOWN DURING THE PREVIOUS 90 DAYS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1993 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Somerton, Arizona · Rolle Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BD-4
- Registration
- N2849 · no longer on the register · serial 238
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SECOND PILOT HAD JUST REBUILT THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE. HAVING NEVER FLOWN THIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE, AND HAVING NOT FLOWN IN THE LAST 90 DAYS, HE ASKED ANOTHER PILOT, WHO ALSO DID NOT HAVE ANY TIME IN TYPE, TO FLY WITH HIM ON THE INITIAL TEST FLIGHT AS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. AFTER PERFORMING SOME AIRWORK, THE SECOND PILOT THEN FLEW THE AIRPLANE TO A NEARBY AIRPORT FOR A LANDING. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY COLLIDING WITH AN 18-INCH HIGH GRAVEL MOUND SEPARATING THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR.
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: 1,200 hours in all; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 231 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1993; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Yuma AZ at 12:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.