# NTSB CEN12LA167: Crain Jac A BD-4, N215BD, Clarinda, IA, February 19, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 19, 2012, 13:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Clarinda, IA - Coordinates: 40.705554, -95.04972 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7056&lon=-95.0497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 19, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Des Moines FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82949 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82949/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82949 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA167 ## Probable cause A loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Crain Jac A BD-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05615C8), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Crain Jac A BD-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05615C8), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Crain Jac A BD-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05615C8), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Global positioning system data indicated that the airplane had taken off about 41 minutes before the accident and had flown about 60 nautical miles. The last portion of the data indicated that the airplane was making a descending left turn toward the departure airport. The last recorded position was almost directly above the accident site; the airplane impacted a field in a near vertical attitude about 1.2 miles from the airport. Based on the last two recorded data positions, the airplane was in a 60 foot-per-minute rate of descent at 115 knots on a heading of 351 degrees. This data indicated that the airplane was well above the airplane’s stall speed and provided no explanation for the mishap. Postaccident examination of the airplane and its engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 19, 2012, about 1330 central standard time, an amateur-built Crain BD-4 airplane, N215BD, impacted the ground following a loss of control near Clarinda, Iowa. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed during the impact. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Schenck Field Airport (ICL), Clarinda, Iowa, about 1249. Data retrieved from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that was on-board the airplane indicated that the airplane departed from ICL about 1249. The data showed that, after takeoff from runway 20, the airplane made a climbing left turn and headed north toward the town of Villisca, Iowa. The airplane leveled off after reaching about 3,000 feet altitude above mean sea level (msl). Prior to reaching Viscilla, the airplane turned northeast and flew toward Corning, Iowa, and after passing Corning, the airplane turned to the right and headed southwest back toward ICL. As the airplane approached ICL, it began a descent and passed over the airport heading in a west-southwest direction. The airplane’s recorded altitude and speed when it passed over the airport were about 2,600 feet msl, and 140 knots (161 mph) respectively. The data showed that the airplane then began a left turn back toward the approach end of runway 2 at ICL. The last recorded data point, at 1330:15, placed the airplane about 1.2 miles and 237 degrees from the approach end of the runway. Based on the last two recorded positions, the airplane was descending at a rate of 60 foot per minute at 115 knots (132 mph) on a heading of 351 degrees. The last recorded GPS position was almost directly above the accident site. The 41-minute flight covered approximately 60 nautical miles. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane in a steep descent prior to striking the ground, but they did not report seeing the airplane prior to the steep descent. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The 53-year old pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land airplane rating. He was issued a third-class airman medical certificate, with a restriction for corrective lenses, on February 17, 2011. According to the pilot’s flight logbook, the pilot accumulated 93 hours total flight time. The last page of entries indicated that the pilot had logged approximately 10 hours flight time in the accident airplane since September 2011. The most recent entry in the logbook was dated January 8, 2012. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The accident airplane was an amateur-built BD-4, serial number 215. It was a four-place, strut braced high wing airplane, with a tricycle landing gear configuration. The airplane was built by the owner/pilot and received a Special Airworthiness Certificate on August 9, 2005. Theairplane was powered by a 180-horsepower Lycoming model IO-360-A1A four-cylinder, reciprocating engine. According to information from the airplane designer’s website, the BD-4B, an updated version of the accident airplane, had a stall speed of 61 mph with flaps retracted and 55 mph with the flaps extended. According to maintenance records, the airplane had accumulated 48.58 hours total time in service as of the last condition inspection dated December 15, 2011. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Weather conditions recorded at ICL, at 1024, were: wind from 180 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 7 degrees Celsius, dew point -5 degrees Celsius, and altimeter 30.08 inches of mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane impacted a harvested farm field about 1.2 miles southwest of ICL. The nose wheel and propeller were buried into the ground. The fuselage from the firewall to the aft fuselage was fragmented. The tail surfaces remained attached to the aft fuselage with their hinges intact. Both wings separated from the fuselage and exhibited crushing consistent with a near vertical impact. The wreckage was removed from the accident site and examined at a later date. Postaccident examination of the engine confirmed valve train continuity, valve action, and engine rotation. The magnetos were examined and one was able to produce spark on all leads when rotated. The other magneto would not produce spark when rotated. This magneto exhibited impact damage to the external case and was disassembled. It was found that the internal ignition point assembly had fractured and was not allowing the points to open and close properly. The remaining components of the magneto appeared undamaged and functional. Examination of the airframe confirmed the presence of all flight control surfaces. The ailerons and flaps had separated from their respective wing panels. The fuselage cabin section was fragmented and the instrument panel was crushed and deformed. Examination of the control system was unable to confirm control system continuity due to the extensive damage; however, the examined components exhibited no failures that were determined to have existed prior to impact. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner, Ankeny, Iowa, on February 20, 2012. The pilot's death was attributed to injuries received in the accident. Toxicology testing was performed by the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute. Testing results were negative for all substances in the screening profile. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N215BD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N215BD-2017-09-18), registration cancelled 2017-09-18, S/N 215, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CRAIN JAC A BD-4 - Registry model: [Crain Jac A BD-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/crain-jac-a-bd-4) (registry code 05615C8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 215 - Airframe hours: 49 - Engines: LYCOMING IO360 SER A&C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 15, 2011 - Departed: ICL, Clarinda, IA - Destination: ICL, Clarinda, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 93 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: ICL, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20120219001829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120219001829A), Feb 19, 2012: Crain Jac A BD-4, Clarinda, IA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On February 19, 2012, at approximately 1320 CST, a BD-4 (experimental amateur-built) crashed about 1.5 miles southwest of the Clarinda Iowa airport (icl).… ## Docket (19 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 29, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82949. 10.7 MB in all. - GPS Recorder 17 - Factual Report of Investigation (item 1, .PDF, 604 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366488&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=GPS%20Recorder%2017%20-%20Factual%20Report%20of%20Investigation-Master.PDF - GPS Data 17- Addendum 1 (item 2, .CSV, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366489&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=GPS%20Data%20%2017-%20Addendum%201-Master.csv - Evidence Control Form (item 3, .PDF, 246 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form-Redacted.PDF - Retention / Release of Wreckage Form (item 4, .PDF, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Retention%20%2F%20Release%20of%20Wreckage%20Form-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 5, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Excerpts from aircraft maintenance records (item 6, .PDF, 273 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20aircraft%20maintenance%20records-Redacted.PDF - Excerpts from pilot's logbook (item 7, .PDF, 269 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20pilot%27s%20logbook-Redacted.PDF - Aircraft certification documents (item 8, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391190&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20certification%20documents-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 9, .PDF, 209 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391220&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - BD-4B aircraft specifications (item 10, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=BD-4B%20aircraft%20specifications-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - overall view of accident site (Photo provided by insurance representative) (item 11, .PDF, 607 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391201&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20overall%20view%20of%20accident%20site%20(Photo%20provided%20by%20insurance%20representative)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - overall view of main wreckage (Photo provided by insurance representative) (item 12, .PDF, 630 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391202&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20overall%20view%20of%20main%20wreckage%20(Photo%20provided%20by%20insurance%20representative)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - View of fuselage and tail(Photo provided by insurance representative) (item 13, .PDF, 538 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391204&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20View%20of%20fuselage%20and%20tail(Photo%20provided%20by%20insurance%20representative)-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - View of right wing (Photo provided by insurance representative) (item 14, .PDF, 656 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391205&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20View%20of%20right%20wing%20(Photo%20provided%20by%20insurance%20representative)-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - View of left wing (Photo provided by insurance representative) (item 15, .PDF, 651 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391207&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20View%20of%20left%20wing%20(Photo%20provided%20by%20insurance%20representative)-Master.PDF - Photo 6 - NTSB Photo of engine during examination (item 16, .PDF, 386 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391209&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20-%20NTSB%20Photo%20of%20engine%20during%20examination-Master.PDF - Photo 7 - NTSB Photo of engine (rear) during examination (item 17, .PDF, 490 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391210&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207%20-%20NTSB%20Photo%20of%20engine%20(rear)%20during%20examination-Master.PDF - Photo 8 - NTSB Photo of broken magneto points (item 18, .PDF, 425 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391211&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%208%20-%20NTSB%20Photo%20of%20broken%20magneto%20points-Master.PDF - Photo 9 - NTSB photo of magneto cover (item 19, .PDF, 341 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391212&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%209%20-%20NTSB%20photo%20of%20magneto%20cover-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.