Williams Gateway Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Phoenix, Arizona 85201
Wednesday, October 30, 1996 10:40 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that as he was doing touch-and-go operations, the engine overheated and lost power during the takeoff initial climb. He landed in flat desert terrain, and the landing gear collapsed as the airplane touched down in soft soil. Responding bystanders and fire personnel stated that fuel was leaking from the aircraft as they arrived. A responding FAA inspector stated that on his arrival, several hours after the accident, the coolant temperature gauge was pegged above the redline limit. The inspector reported that the cylinder interiors exhibited evidence of high heat. No determination was made regarding the cooling system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power during the takeoff initial climb, due to an undetermined cooling system malfunction. A related factor was: soft terrain in the forced landing area.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/30/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1040
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City PHOENIX
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85201
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WILLIAMS GATEWAY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IWA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1378
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1747 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID IWA
Elevation of weather observation facility 1378
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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) 1438
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 30 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1020
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:25AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N169DS
NTSB Number LAX97LA028
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Leibert
Aircraft Model BD-5B
Aircraft Series Identifier BD-5B
Aircraft Serial Number 29
Certified Max Gross Weight 782
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 Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEON REDMAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 710 E. LOS ARBOLES COURT
Aircraft Owner City CHANDLER
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85225
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code IWA
Departure City
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 Emergency landing
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 30C
Runway Length 3109
Runway Width 46
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --