# NTSB MKC89LA126: Olson BD-4, N373TC, Cedar Rapids, IA, June 4, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 4, 1989, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Cedar Rapids, IA
- Coordinates: 42.01968, -91.6595 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0197&lon=-91.6595&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34803
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89LA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34803/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA126

## Probable cause

PREMATURE LIFT-OFF AND INADVERTENT STALL BY THE PILOT. A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE BY THE PILOT WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - performed, pilot in command
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted landing - initiated, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted

## Analysis

AFTER MAKING TWO PRACTICE VFR APPROACHES WITHOUT TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT REQUESTED A FULL STOP LANDING. HE SAID THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND HE LOST RUNWAY ALIGNMENT, SO HE ELECTED TO GO-AROUND. ALSO, HE SAID THAT AT ABOUT 20 FT AGL, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT, IT STALLED, THEN IT ROLLED INVERTED AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT SUFFERED A BROKEN ARM. HE HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 86 HRS, OF WHICH, TWO HRS WERE IN THIS TAILWHEEL CONFIGURED, HOME-BUILT AIRCRAFT. THIS WAS A FLIGHT TO ESTABLISH THE FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT HAD TWO HRS FLIGHT TIME IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N373TC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N373TC-1993-09-14), registration cancelled 1993-09-14, S/N 373 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: OLSON BD-4
- Registry model: [Olson Thomas C BD-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/olson-thomas-c-bd-4) (registry code 11304G8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 373
- Airframe hours: 2
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-B1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Olson, Thomas C.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 21, 1989, 2 hours before
- Departed: CID, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA
- Airport: CID, Cedar Rapids, runway 27, 7,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 86 total, 2 in this make and model, 52 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CID, 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 19890604014339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890604014339A), Jun 4, 1989: Amtrbd BEDEBD4, Cedar Rapids, IA, Substantial damage. Bounced on landing, began go around, stalled, collided with terrain while rolling over to inverted atitude.

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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