Bowman Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Louisville, Kentucky 40205
Sunday, April 4, 1982 8:26 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON APPROACH DURING AN ATTEMPTED EMERGENCY LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST DEPARTED AND WAS RETURNINGBECAUSE OF SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. THE SMOKE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND ARCING OF WIRING IN THE SYSTEM. THE LOOSE WIRING AND WORN INSULATION WERE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF NEGLECT IN MAINTENANCE. THE CREW'S LACK OF PROPER EMERGENCYEVACUATION WAS RESULT OF NO ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES AND POOR JUDGEMENT REACTION. THE RIGHT SEAT PILOT WAS STILL TURNING TO LAND WHEN AIRCRAFT DESCENDED RAPIDLY AND LEFT WING CONTACTED RUNWAY FIRST THEN THE NOSE. ALL LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AS THE AIRCRAFT SPUN AROUND, SLID AND CAUGHT FIRE AS IT STOPPED SLIDING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/4/1982
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 826
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City LOUISVILLE
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 40205
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport BOWMAN FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LOU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 834
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID LOU
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 38
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3249
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8854A
NTSB Number ATL82FA089
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 Ground and In-flight
Aircraft Explosion Ground and In-flight
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model B35
Aircraft Series Identifier B35
Aircraft Serial Number D-2509
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
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 62
Airframe Hours 6279
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GRUHL CORPORATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 730 WEST MARKET STREET, SUITE
Aircraft Owner City LOUISVILLE
Aircraft Owner State KY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 40202
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GRUHL CORPORATION
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 730 WEST MARKET STREET, SUITE
Operator City LOUISVILLE
Operator State KY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 40202
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code LOU
Departure City LOUISVILLE
Departure State KY
Departure Country
Departure Time 824
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City DAYTON
Destination State OH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6
Runway Length 4312
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --