# Accident 20120609010459A: Birchler Boyd EAGLE 540, Kokomo, IN, June 9, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 9, 2012, 15:50 local time
- Place: Kokomo, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.5219° N, 86.0547° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5219&lon=-86.0547&mi=10
- Aircraft: N34BJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34BJ-2018-02-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Birchler Boyd EAGLE 540 (registry code 05621ZS, https://openairdocs.org/model/birchler-boyd-eagle-540) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (registry code 41651, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-c4b5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BIRCHLER BOYD EAGLE 540
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 40 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12CA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA360) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120609010459A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012 PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS PERFORMING AT AN AIR SHOW FOR THE WINGS AND WHEELS AIR SHOW HELD AT THE KOKOMO, INDIANA AIRPORT. (KOKK)AS PART OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ "ACT" HE TOOK OFF FROM RUNWAY 23, WENT INVERTED (PLANNED) AND HEADED TOWARDS A GROUP OF TREES LOCATED AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PLANNED ON CLIMBING OUT INVERTED NEAR THE TREES.FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MISJUDGED HIS DISTANCE/ALTITUDE AND FLEW THROUGH SOME OF THE TREE BRANCHES. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO ALL FLYING SURFACES AND HIS PROPELLER. HE WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY AND MAKE A NORMAL LANDINGTHERE WERE NO INJURIES TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OR ANYONE ON THE GROUND AND THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE AIRPORT.VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.FAA PARTICIPATION DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT. NTSB WAS NOTIFIED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN12CA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA360), Jun 9, 2012: Birchler Boyd Eagle 540 (N34BJ), Kokomo, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the trees during a low-level aerobatic maneuver.

## Other reports on N34BJ (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20140810014479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140810014479A), Aug 10, 2014: Birchler Boyd EAGLE 540 (N34BJ), Standish, ME, Substantial damage. Pilot and only occupant of N34BJ, departed the northern aroostook rgnl airport, frenchville, Maine after conducting an aeobatic demonstration in his christen…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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