- Date
- April 4, 1992, 13:08 local (21:08 UTC)
- Place
- Compton, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3DWBede BD-5
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920404008729A
- Case key
- 27593
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
1) A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, 2) the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed, and 3) the inadvertent entry into a stall spin. Factors in this accident were: 1) the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane, and 2) the pilot's lack of recent aeronautical experience.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane's engine had a total loss of power during takeoff climb. Witnesses reported 'seeing the aircraft fall straight down to the ground.' FAA airworthiness inspectors examined the airplane's engine and could find no pre-existing deficiencies which would account for the loss of engine power. Examination of the pilot's logbook entries showed no entries for a biennial flight review. According to the pilot's logbook, he last logged a flight on March 26, 1990. Friends of the pilot reported that he had periodically flown the accident airplane since he purchased it in March 1992. A witness also reported that the pilot had not attempted power off stalls in the accident airplane. A diligent search was conducted by the FAA to determine if the pilot had a current medical certificate. The diligent search concluded that a current medical certificate was not on file with the FAA.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3DW
- Reported as
- Bede BD-5
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1267
- Engine
- Honda CIVIC EB2, 95 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert & Christopher Anderson
- Registered owner
- Robert & Christopher Anderson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 20, 1990
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Expired
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,500 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,000 ft broken
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.