# NTSB CHI87DEE08: Bede BD5 A-B, N501RM, Kankakee, IL, April 18, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: April 18, 1987, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place: Kankakee, IL
- Coordinates: 41.109668, -87.86071 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1097&lon=-87.8607&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13557
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87DEE08
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13557/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87DEE08

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON THE FIRST TEST FLIGHT IN HIS HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT AND AFTER CLIMBING TO APPROXIMATELY 1000 FT. AGL, STALLED THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SUBSEQUENTLY ENTERED A SPIN AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THERE WERE REPORTS OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE 'SPUTTERING'. INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THAT THE PROPELLER WAS NOT SPINNING AT IMPACT. THE PILOT HAD REPORTED CARBURETION PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, BUT THE ENGINE WAS TOO BADLY DAMAGED BY POST IMPACT FIRE TO ALLOW A DETERMINATION OF WHAT CAUSED A POWERLOSS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N501RM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N501RM-1990-06-14), registration cancelled 1990-06-14, S/N 1736 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bede Aircraft BD5 A-B
- Registry model: [Magee Robert BD-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/magee-robert-bd-5a) (registry code 11307J6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1736-A
- Airframe hours: 6
- Engines: KAWASAKI KR-1000 83 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert Magee
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 1987, 6 hours before
- Departed: IKK, KANKAKEE, IL
- Airport: IKK, Greater Kankakee

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 214 total, 214 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 4° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19870418010039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870418010039A), Apr 18, 1987: Amtrbd BEDEBD5, Kankakee, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Departed on first test flight at 1000 feet aircraft rolled left spiraled and hit ground. Carburetor defect suspect.

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.