Amateur-built BD-4 accident near Henderson, Nevada, July 21, 1984
On July 21, 1984 at about 5:47 pm local time, a amateur-built BD-4, registered N78JC, was destroyed in an accident near Henderson, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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 21, 1984 · about 5:47 pm local time
- Place
- Henderson, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BD-4
- Registration
- N78JC · no longer on the register · serial 638
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE ACFT DEPART TO THE SSW TOWARD THE MOUNTAINS. THE ACFT MADE A SERIES OF TURNS AND BANKS TO AVOID A GROUP OF THUNDERSTORM CELLS (AIR MASS THUNDERSTORMS) IN A DIRECTION OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 15. THE ACFT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE MADE SEVERAL TURNS AWAY FROM THE 'WORST' PART OF THE RAIN SHOWERS. ALL THE WITNESSES REPORTED THE ACFT 'JUST PITCHED DOWN AND WENT INTO THE GROUND.' THE THUNDERSTORM CELLS WERE NOT REPORTED ON THE 1750Z LAS VEGAS, NV, FSS SURFACE ANALYSIS WEATHER OBSERVATION.
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: 500 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 60 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 1983; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from LAS, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.