# NTSB NYC94LA094: Bradford Seahawk, N65TB, Richmond, KY, May 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 25, 1994, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Richmond, KY - Coordinates: 37.74028, -84.290107 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7403&lon=-84.2901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38763 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38763/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA094 ## Probable cause was the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the collision with an object during the subsequent forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THIS WAS THE PILOT'S SECOND FLIGHT IN THE EXPERIMENTAL, HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 800 FEET OVER THE AIRPORT. HE STATED ON THE RADIO THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOST POWER. AFTER SWITCHING FUEL TANKS, THE ENGINE RESTARTED, BUT IT QUIT AGAIN AFTER A SHORT TIME. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO RUNWAY 18. HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE AIRPORT AND IMPACTED A TREE ABOUT 200 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY POST-IMPACT FIRE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE THE AIRPLANE, BUT WAS SEVERELY BURNED. ## Factual narrative On Wednesday, May 25, 1994, at 1530 central daylight time, a Bradford Seahawk, N65TB, a homebuilt, amphibian airplane, registered to and piloted by Thomas O. Bradford, was destroyed in Richmond, Kentucky. The pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was performing the second flight in this airplane. He departed the Madison Airport for a local flight. He circled the airport three times and was in radio contact with personnel on the ground. He stated over the radio that the engine had quit and he was switching fuel tanks. The engine restarted, but quit again. The pilot initiated a forced landing to runway 18, but the airplane collided with a tree about 200 feet from the approach end of the runway. After impact, a fire started and the airplane was destroyed. The pilot was able to evacuate the airplane, but he succumbed to injuries 3 days after the accident. Mr. David I. King, a Federal Aviation Administration Principal Maintenance Inspector, examined the wreckage. In his report, Mr. King stated: Examination of the wreckage indicated the post crash fire consumed the entire aircraft. The fire centered around the left side of the cockpit and the...wing root area. The instruments and controls were totally destroyed. Several lumps of molten aluminum were found. They are believed to be the control stick...fuel primer and fuel selector valve. The electrical wiring and any rubber fuel links were consumed. The engine...suffered similar damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65TB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65TB-1996-07-12), registration cancelled 1996-07-12, S/N 129 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BRADFORD SEAHAWK - Registry model: [Bradford Thomas O BRADFORD SEAHAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/bradford-thomas-o-bradford-seahawk) (registry code 9570852) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 129 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas O. Bradford - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: I39 - Destination: I39, KY - Airport: I39, Madison, runway 18, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 613 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 12 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 19940525012559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940525012559A), May 25, 1994: Amtrts SEAHAWK, Richmond, KY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Climbing over I39 reported power loss. Circled to land. Hit tree 200 feet from runway. Burned. Pilot fatal burns. 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.