Amateur-built BULLET accident near Eustis, Florida, September 14, 1985
On September 14, 1985 at about 1:45 pm local time, a amateur-built BULLET, registered N520BJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eustis, Florida (Midflorida 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 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
- September 14, 1985 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Eustis, Florida · Midflorida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BULLET
- Registration
- N520BJ · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CONTACTED A DITCH DURING AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF ON A TAXIWAY. THE PLT REPORTEDLY DECIDED TO USE THE TAXIWAY FOR TAKEOFF RATHER THAN THE RWY BECAUSE OF THE SOFT RWY CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED FROM RECENT RAINS. DURING TAKEOFF THE LEFTMAIN GEAR CONTACTED SOFT TERRAIN AND THE ACFT VEERED LEFT OFF THE TAXIWAY. THE PLT THEN INITIATED RETRACTION OF THE LANDING GEAR AND APPLIED BACK PRESSURE IN AN ATTEMPT TO BECOME AIRBORNE. HOWEVER, THE ACFT CONTINUED OFF THE TAXIWAY WHERE IT CONTACTED A DITCH.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,884 hours in all; 1,098 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8,296 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,098 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1985; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming JO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: LEE Leesburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.