# NTSB SEA89FA104: Anderson BD-5, N13AT, Everett, WA, June 11, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 11, 1989, 11:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place: Everett, WA
- Coordinates: 47.909519, -122.299064 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9095&lon=-122.2991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40921
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA89FA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40921/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89FA104

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE BY THE PILOT/OWNER/BUILDER, HIS OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING AN EMERGENCY DESCENT, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering
  - maintenance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE HOMEBUILT ACFT WAS ON ITS INITIAL TEST FLT, WHEN IT CRASHED. SVRL PSNL RPRTD THAT BEFORE THE FLT, ENG PROBLEMS HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED. RPRTDLY, THERE HAD BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE MIXTURE CONTROL SYS & THE ENG HAD BEEN OVERHEATING. ONE WITNESS NOTED THE ENG HAD STOPPED RUNNING 2 TIMES AS THE PLT WAS TAXIING TO TAKE OFF. BOTH TIMES, IT WAS RESTARTED AFTERMANY 'CRANKS' OR 'SPINS OF THE PROP.'  ALSO, THE WITNESS NOTED THAT WHILE THE PLT WAS WAITING FOR ANOTHER ACFT TO DEPART, THE 'ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT HIGH RPM IN ORDER (HE PRESUMED) TO KEEP IT GOING.'  AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT REMAINED AT LOW ALT, TURNED NORTH, THEN ENTERED A WIDE TURN TO THE SOUTH. TWR PSNL NOTED THE ACFT BEGAN DSCNDG, THEN ENTERED A STEEP DSCNT & DISAPPEARED BEHIND TREES. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT IMPACTED IN A BAY ABT 2 MI WEST OF THE ARPT. AFTER THE WRECKAGEWAS RETRIEVED, NO APPARENT PREIMPACT STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE ENG OR ACCESSORIES WAS FOUND. SOOT/DARK DISCOLORATION WERE FOUND INSIDE THE ENG COMPARTMENT, BUT A FIRE HAD OCCURRED IN THAT AREA ABT 1 YEAR BFR THE ACDNT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N13AT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N13AT-1991-10-11), registration cancelled 1991-10-11, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Anderson Aircraft Corp. BD-5
- Registry model: [Anderson William M BD-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/anderson-william-m-bd-5) (registry code 11307M6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1
- Engines: Honda 1200 CC 75 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: William M. Anderson
- Registered owner: William M Anderson
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, June 21, 1988, 0 hours before
- Departed: PAE, EVERETT, WA
- Destination: PAE
- Airport: PAE, Paine Field, runway 34L, 9,010 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 861 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PAE, 2 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 19890611014959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890611014959A), Jun 11, 1989: Amtrbd BEDEBD5, Everett, WA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft observed in steep descent after takeoff. Previous aborted takeoff due to overheated converted car engine.

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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