Amateur-built Bradley BA100 accident near Xenia, Ohio, May 29, 2005
On May 29, 2005 at about 1:02 pm local time, a amateur-built Bradley BA100, registered N53SK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Xenia, Ohio (Greene County 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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and uncontrolled descent into terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2005 · about 1:02 pm local time
- Place
- Xenia, Ohio · Greene County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Bradley BA100
- Registration
- N53SK · no longer on the register · serial BA100172-00
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur built airplane was equipped with a Revmaster 2100D, 75-horsepower engine; which was a conversion of a Volkswagen engine. The pilot had completed the first flight in the airplane several weeks prior to the accident. During that flight, the pilot had difficulty controlling the airplane. The pilot subsequently made modifications to the airplane in an effort to increase the controllability. The accident flight was the pilot's second flight in the airplane. After approximately 15 minutes of flight, the airplane appeared to be entering a base leg for runway 25 at the pilot's home airport. Witnesses heard the engine sputter, followed by a lack of engine noise. The airplane then slowed, descended in a nose down attitude, and impacted a quarry. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The engine was not equipped with magnetos as it had a battery-powered ignition system. The battery-powered ignition system was not tested due to impact damage. In addition, according to an FAA Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, moderate icing at cruise power or serious icing at glide power range was predicted for the prevailing temperature and dew point.
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: 300 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 1 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2004; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster 2100D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I19 Dayton OH at 12:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,965 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from FFO, 10 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.