Taylorcraft BL-65 accident near Spokane, Washington, April 10, 1993
On April 10, 1993 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BL-65, registered N29553, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spokane, Washington (Felts Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE SEAT AND THE INADVERTENT STALLING OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE BUILDINGS AND POWER LINES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1993 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Spokane, Washington · Felts Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BL-65 · all BL-65s on the register
- Registration
- N29553 · registry record · serial 2396
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMBOUT THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT TO LAND DUE TO BUILDINGS AND POWER LINES IN HIS CLIMBOUT FLIGHT PATH. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT 'DUE TO THE TIGHTNESS OF THE TURN TO MISS AN AIRPORT BUILDING THE AIRPLANE LOST SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED AND STALLED.' SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE SEAT HAD FAILED AND NO COMPRESSION COULD BE ACHIEVED FROM THE CYLINDER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 512 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 431 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,026 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1993; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-145-B2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.