Lake Geneve Aero Estates Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin 53147
Monday, July 1, 1996 8:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The experimental BD-5 aircraft had been towed to the run-up area in preparation for a heavy weight test flight. The preflight and run-up were normal. Witnesses indicated the engine developed full power during the takeoff roll, and that the aircraft accelerated to the Go/No-Go point on the 2,300 foot airstrip. The pilot continued the takeoff roll, but reportedly, the aircraft did not rotate. Witnesses reported that the airplane became airborne between 1,900 feet to 2,300 feet down the runway, but only climbed about 4 feet. Subsequently, it impacted a wire fence near the departure end of the runway, and then bounced and skidded across a divided four lane highway, inflicting minor damage to a car. The pilot's wife reported that the temperature was hot, and the wind was calm. The modified inboard marine engine exhibited continuity. The flight controls and drive train exhibited continuity. The propeller which had been carved by the pilot/builder was destroyed during impact.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to abort the takeoff, while there was sufficient runway remaining. The high temperature and calm wind were related factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/1/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 815
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City LAKE GENEVA
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53147
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LAKE GENEVE AERO ESTATES
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W189
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 823
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 745 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID UE
Elevation of weather observation facility 911
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1165
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 1 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:11AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N51SK
NTSB Number CHI96LA225
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Sisk
Aircraft Model BD-5
Aircraft Series Identifier BD-5
Aircraft Serial Number 1632
Certified Max Gross Weight 750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VADIE G. SISK
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT. 3, BOX 595
Aircraft Owner City LAKE GENEVA
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 53147
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code WI89
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 815
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 2300
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --