Amateur-built BD-4D accident near Pittstown, New Jersey, July 23, 1983
On July 23, 1983 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built BD-4D, registered N68020, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittstown, New Jersey (Alexandria Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- July 23, 1983 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pittstown, New Jersey · Alexandria Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BD-4D
- Registration
- N68020 · no longer on the register · serial 430
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRE-TAKEOFF RUN-UP WAS NORMAL. AS THE ACFT LIFTED OFF THE RWY THE ENG QUIT. THE ACFT RAN OFF THE RWY ONTO SOFT GROUND & FLIPPED OVER. THE ONLY ENG MALFUNCTION FOUND WAS LOW COMPRESSION IN THE #1 CYLINDER DUE TO BOTH VALVES BEING STUCK PARTIALLY OPEN. ALL FUEL HAD DRAINED FROM THE FUEL TANKS WHILE THE ACFT LAY UPSIDE DOWN. THERE WERE NO QUICK DRAINS IN THE WING FUEL TANKS; PLUGS WERE INSTALLED INSTEAD. FUEL CAN ONLY BE CHECKED FOR CONTAMINATION BY DRAINING FUEL FROM THE QUICK DRAIN AT THE FIREWALL FILTER.
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: 310 hours in all; 202 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 240 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1983; 26 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°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.