20031101035419A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Amtr BD5B · Traverse City, MI · November 1, 2003

Date: November 1, 2003 · 15:59 local
Place: Traverse City, MI
Airport: Cherry Capital
Phase of flight: Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N515KH
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI04LA026
Reported as: Amtr BD5B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1

N515KHRegistration cancelled Feb 18, 2004 · Master Donald C BD5BS/N 474 Airframe modelMaster Donald C BD5B Engine modelHonda CX500Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Aircraft N515KH was flying in VFR conditions. The pilot reported a landing gear problem to the tvc tower several minutes prior to the crash. The pilot called back a short time later to the tower stating that the problem had been resolved. He then requested winds and active runway information and was cleared to land. Personnel stationed in the tower stated that after the last radio transmission the aircraft pitched nose down entering into a spin. Witnesses stated that the aircraft made two full rotations prior to impacting the terrain.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT N515KH WAS FLYING IN VFR CONDITIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED A LANDING GEAR PROBLEM TO THE TVC TOWER SEVERAL MINUTES PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE PILOT CALLED BACK A SHORT TIME LATER TO THE TOWER STATING THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN RESOLVED. HE THEN REQUESTED WINDS AND ACTIVE RUNWAY INFORMATION AND WAS CLEARED TO LAND. PERSONNEL STATIONED IN THE TOWER STATED THAT AFTER THE LAST RADIO TRANSMISSION THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN ENTERING INTO A SPIN. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT MADE TWO FULL ROTATIONS PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE TERRAIN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI04LA026Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportTraverse City, MIThe pilot in command not maintaining control of the aircraft during the final approach.Nov 1, 2003 · Destroyed