NTSB BFO89DIG03 — 1989-07-30 · CUMBERLAND, Maryland, United States

Current FAA registration · N4655Y

Make / Model: KOCH/MYERS SMITH MINPLANE DSA-1
Seats / Engines: 1 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A5AF4C

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N4655Y Smith Miniplane None

Probable cause & findings

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING HIGH SPEED TAXI TESTS.

Factual narrative

THE PLT WAS MAKING A HIGH SPEED TAXI RUN, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE REPORTED HAVING DIFFICULTY STEERING THE ACFT AS HE WAS TAXIING DOWN THE RWY. CONTROL OF THE ACFT WAS LOST AND IT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY INTO A WOODED AREA. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF THE LANDING GEAR AND/OR ACFT STEERING. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_BFO89DIG03.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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