Probable cause
The pilot’s suicidal act.
NTSB analysis
The wreckage was located on airport property in the early morning hours having crashed under unknown circumstances. There were no witnesses to the accident. The medical examiner determined that the pilot died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and the manner of death was determined to be suicide.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR13LA203 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 20, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Bullhead City, Arizona
- Nearest airport
- Bullhead City Airport (IFP)
- Highest injury
- Fatal
- Fatal injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built RV-4
- N-number
- N194BD
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.