British Aircraft CORP. BAC STKMSTR MK80 accident near Henderson, Nevada, July 24, 2017
On July 24, 2017 at about 6:56 pm local time, a 1972 British Aircraft CORP. BAC STKMSTR MK80, registered N605GV, was destroyed in an accident during taxi near Henderson, Nevada (Henderson Executive airport). It was a positioning flight under public-use (government) rules. 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to ensure that the flaps were set to the proper position for takeoff which resulted in the airplane becoming airborne and unable to climb or accelerate and subsequently impacting terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2017 · about 6:56 pm local time
- Place
- Henderson, Nevada · Henderson Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- British Aircraft CORP. BAC STKMSTR MK80 MARK88, built 1972
- Registration
- N605GV · no longer on the register · serial EEP/JP/3681
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Public Use aircraft in support of the U.S. Air Force, was taking off on a cross-country flight when it crashed shortly after takeoff. According the pilot, shortly after takeoff, the airplane failed to accelerate, and he was unable to initiate a normal climb. The airplane subsequently struck terrain and was consumed by fire. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the flaps were in the fully extended position. Additionally, maintenance personnel that launched the airplane, both stated that the airplane taxied from of the ramp area with the flaps fully extended. The pilot had performed a ground engine run to help maintenance personnel check that the replacement flap actuator was functioned properly and had no leaks. The pilot was asked to extend and retract the flaps several times. It is likely that the pilot was distracted by the airplane’s maintenance and associated ground tests and inadvertently failed to confirm the proper flap setting before takeoff.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during taxi defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff
- Loss of lift during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,285 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,090.4 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 8, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 10,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rolls-Royc VIPER 535 (turbojet); 3,858 hours total
- Operator: Blue Air Training LLC
The flight
- Departed from: HND Las Vegas NV at 6:55 pm
- Destination: RNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17R, 6,501 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from BVU, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
15 documents, released by the NTSB on March 9, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement (Final) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Email - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Email (NTSB Meteorologist) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Record of Conversation of Maintenance Personnel Who Launched the Airplane | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Maintenance Personnel Statements | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Record of Conversation - FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Airframe and Engine Examination Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Aircraft Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Airframe Logbook Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Strikemaster Checklist | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 13 | Strikemaster Flight Manual Excerpt on Flaps | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 14 | Statement of Party Reprensentatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 15 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.