Amateur-built BEDE BD-4 accident near Elma, Washington, May 16, 1991
On May 16, 1991 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built BEDE BD-4, registered N17127, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elma, Washington (Elma airport). 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 PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: PROPER ALIGNMENT WAS NOT MAINTAINED, INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION, AND THE PILOT DID NOT IDENTIFY A STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1991 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Elma, Washington · Elma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BEDE BD-4
- Registration
- N17127 · no longer on the register · serial 614
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS 50 FEET HIGH. THE PILOT MADE S TURNS TO DECREASE ALTITUDE AND REPORTED THAT WHEN HE MADE THE LEFT TURN, THE LEFT WING WOULD NOT COME UP WITH AILERON CONTROL. INSTEAD OF APPLYING FULL POWER TO GO AROUND, THE PILOT OPTED TO COLLIDE WITH THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS FOUND DURING THE POST CRASH INSPECTION.
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: 795 hours in all; 687 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 795 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OLM Olympia WA at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,280 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.