# NTSB LAX84FA253: Sturges BD-5B, N42273, Mckinleyville, CA, April 13, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 13, 1984, 13:32 local (21:32 UTC)
- Place: Mckinleyville, CA
- Coordinates: 40.850803, -124.049682 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8508&lon=-124.0497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23947
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA253
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23947/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA253

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, climb
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER THE ACFT TOOK OFF, WITNESSES OBSERVED IT ENTER A LEFT TURN, PITCH NOSE UP, THEN ENTER A ROLLING/VERTICAL DESCENT & IMPACT AT THE EDGE OF A SURF. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE & ENG REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT/PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. A TEST PLT REPORTED THAT IN SPIN TESTS AT 10,000 FT, THE ACFT REQUIRED UP TO 2000 FT FOR RECOVERY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42273](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42273-1994-07-28), registration cancelled 1994-07-28, S/N 1749 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STURGES BD-5B
- Registry model: [Sturges John & Keith BD 5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/sturges-john-keith-bd-5b) (registry code 11307F7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1749
- Airframe hours: 97
- Engines: HONDA CIVIC EB3 70 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John A. & Keith W. Sturges
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, November 24, 1982, 27 hours before
- Departed: ACV, MCKINLEYVILLE, CA
- Airport: ACV, Arcata, runway 31, 5,998 × 150 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 507 total, 58 in this make and model, 448 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ACV, 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 19840413013489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840413013489A), Apr 13, 1984: Amtrbd BEDEBD5A, Mckinleyville, CA, Destroyed. Stalled and spun in during climbout from takeoff. Witness observed aircraft in a low nose high turn prior to spin.

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.

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