Amateur-built BEDE 4/275 accident near Westfield, Massachusetts, November 10, 1985
On November 10, 1985 at about 6:06 pm local time, a amateur-built BEDE 4/275, registered N58266, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westfield, Massachusetts (Westfield Municipal). 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
- November 10, 1985 · about 6:06 pm local time
- Place
- Westfield, Massachusetts · Westfield Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BEDE 4/275
- Registration
- N58266 · no longer on the register · serial 275
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY DURING A TAKEOFF ATTEMPT. THE NOSE GEAR AND THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE GROUND CONTACT. THE WIND BLEW THE AIRCRAFT TO THE SIDE WITH A WING RAISED AND BEFORE RECOVERY AS EFFECTED THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN SOFT TERRAIN AND THE GEAR COLLAPSED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,714 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 1,420 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1984; 6 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BAF Westfield MA at 6:06 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; ovct at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 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.