# NTSB CHI04LA026: Master Donald C BD5B, N515KH, Traverse City, MI, November 1, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 1, 2003, 15:52 local (20:52 UTC) - Place: Traverse City, MI - Coordinates: 44.74139, -85.582221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7414&lon=-85.5822&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58318 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58318/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=58318 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA026 ## Probable cause The pilot in command not maintaining control of the aircraft during the final approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane was destroyed when it impacted the terrain during landing approach. The airplane came to rest about 1,000 feet short of the intended landing runway. According to the air traffic controller (ATC), the pilot taxied and called for departure at 1543. The airplane was cleared for takeoff and was to maintain a southwest heading after takeoff. The controller stated that the pilot called to return to the field at 1545. The controller asked the pilot if anything was wrong, because of the brief duration of the flight. The controller stated that at this time the pilot reported no problems. At 1546, the airplane was cleared to land. At 1547, the pilot indicated a gear problem and requested to circle the field. At 1550, the pilot informed the controller that "everything looks ok." The airplane was again cleared to land. At 1552, the airplane crashed approximately 1/2 mile south of runway 36. No pre-impact defects were found with respect to the aircraft during a post-accident examination. The reported winds were from 090 degrees at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On November 1, 2003, at 1552 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Master BD5B airplane, N515KH, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted the terrain during landing approach at the Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), Traverse City, Michigan. The airplane came to rest about 1,000 feet short of runway 36 (5,107 feet by 150 feet, asphalt). The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot was fatally injured. The local flight originated at 1543. According to the air traffic controller at TVC tower, the pilot taxied and called for departure at 1543. The airplane was cleared for takeoff and was to maintain a southwest heading after takeoff. The controller stated that the pilot called to return to the field at 1545. The controller asked the pilot if anything was wrong, because of the brief duration of the flight. The controller stated that at this time the pilot reported no problems. At 1546, the airplane was cleared to land. At 1547, the pilot indicated a landing gear problem and requested to circle. At 1550, the pilot informed the controller that "everything looks ok." The airplane was again cleared to land. At 1552, the airplane crashed approximately 1/2 mile south of runway 36. The accident aircraft was an amateur-built Master BD5B, serial number 474. The BD5B is an experimental category airplane with 1 seat. The accident aircraft was powered by a Honda CX500 engine rated at 60 horsepower powering a pusher propeller. The accident aircraft was issued its registration on July 15, 2003, pending a N number change, and received its airworthiness certificate on October 20, 1991. An investigator from the Federal Aviation Administration conducted a post-accident inspection of the airplane. No pre-impact defects were found. The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 090 degrees at 5 knots. An autopsy was performed on the pilot at Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan, The Federal Aviation Administration's Civil Aeromedical Institute prepared a Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report on the pilot. The report indicated SALICYLATE found in urine. Salicylate is found in Aspirin. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N515KH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N515KH-2004-02-18), registration cancelled 2004-02-18, S/N 474 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Master Donald C BD5B - Registry model: [Master Donald C BD5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/master-donald-c-bd5b) (registry code 11307L5) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Honda CX500](https://openairdocs.org/engine/honda-cx500) (registry code 33805, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 474 - Engines: Honda CX500 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Christopher S. Wood - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: TVC, Traverse City, MI - Destination: TVC - Airport: TVC, Cherry Capital, runway 36, 5,107 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 180 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: TVC, 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 20031101035419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031101035419A), Nov 1, 2003: Amtr BD5B, Traverse City, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-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… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 6, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=58318. 216 KB in all. - ATC Transcript (item 1, .PDF, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356047&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=ATC%20Transcript-Redacted.PDF - Statement From Control Tower Controller (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356049&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20From%20Control%20Tower%20Controller-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 3, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356048&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.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.