Bede Aircraft BD-5B accident near Westfield, Massachusetts, July 10, 1983
On July 10, 1983 at about 5:27 pm local time, a Bede Aircraft BD-5B, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N83SK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westfield, Massachusetts (Barnes Municipal 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
- July 10, 1983 · about 5:27 pm local time
- Place
- Westfield, Massachusetts · Barnes Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bede Aircraft BD-5B, amateur-built
- Registration
- N83SK · registry record · serial 3037
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED SHORT OF THE RWY DURING AN ATTEMPTED LANDING. THERE WERE SOME CONFUSING AND GARBLED TRANSMISSIONS AND SOME MISTAKEN INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE TOWER DURING THE PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY THE ACCIDENT PLT. THIS PLT DID NOT MAKE IT CLEAR THAT HE HAD AN EMERGENCY BUT HE DID ASK FOR IMMEDIATE LANDING DUE TO A PROBLEM. HIS ENGINE WAS HEARD OPERATING AT ALTERNATING HIGH AND LOW LEVELS. HIS ACFT HAD A HISTORY OF OVERHEATING AND IT ALSO HAD AN IMPROPER PROPELLER INSTALLED. A NEW PROPELLER WAS ON ORDER. ACCORDING TO GREAT AMERICAN PROPELLER CO, THE PROPELLER INSTALLED ON THE ACFT DID NOT HAVEENOUGH BLADE AREA FOR THE AIRFRAME/ENGINE COMBINATION. THIS COMBINATION COULD CAUSE ENFORCED MODERATE APPLICATION OF THROTTLE AND AT FULL THROTTLE AND LOW AIRSPEEDS COULD RESULT IN EXCESSIVE RPM AND PROBABLE CAVITATION AND LOSS OF THRUST.
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: 156 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 113 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 10, 1983; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 959 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Honda EB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BAF Westfield MA at 5:21 pm
- Destination: BAF Westfield MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:28 pm from BAF
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.