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Aircraft record

N78JC1979 Sperling BD-4

DeregisteredUnclaimedSource: FAA, updated Oct 20, 2026

This N-number isn't registered right now. Below is its last known registration, canceled May 9, 2013.

Safety record in brief:1 NTSB accident (destroyed damage, Jul 1984)No ADs since 1998 matched

Registration
Deregistered
Last based in
Rockford, IL
owner city / state
Engine
0-320 SERIES · 180 hp
Lycoming
Owners
1
since 1984
NTSB events
1
destroyed, 1984
ADs may apply
0
confirm with A&P
Service reports
0
since 1995

Registration

FAA Aircraft Registry · Oct 20, 2026
Last registered owner
Individual owner
City, state
Rockford, IL
Certificate issued
Mar 5, 1984
Canceled
May 9, 2013
Airworthiness
Experimental · Amateur Built
Airworthiness date
Nov 14, 1979

We never show street addresses, even though they appear in the public FAA file. Individual owners are shown by city and state only.

Airframe & engine

FAA Registry + type data

Airframe

Manufacturer
Sperling
Model
BD-4
Year
1979
Serial number
638
Aircraft type
Fixed wing single engine
Category
Land
Certification
Not Type Certificated
Seats
4
Engines
1
Max takeoff weight
Up to 12,499 lb
Mode S code
AA8EF8

Engine

Make and model
Lycoming 0-320 Series
Type
Reciprocating
Power
180 hp

Total time and engine hours aren't public. They appear here once the owner adds logbooks.

Ownership history

Ownership history from FAA records
  1. 1984 – 2013Individual ownerRockford, IL

Individual owners are shown by city and state only.

Safety record

NTSB · Oct 15, 2026 · FAA ADs · Oct 20, 2026 · SDRs · Oct 16, 2026

NTSB events (1)

Accident · destroyed

Jul 21, 1984 · Henderson, NV

WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE ACFT DEPART TO THE SSW TOWARD THE MOUNTAINS. THE ACFT MADE A SERIES OF TURNS AND BANKS TO AVOID A GROUP OF THUNDERSTORM CELLS (AIR MASS THUNDERSTORMS) IN A DIRECTION OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 15. THE ACFT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE MADE SEVERAL TURNS AWAY FROM THE 'WORST' PART OF THE RAIN SHOWERS. ALL THE WITNESSES REPORTED THE ACFT 'JUST PITCHED DOWN AND WENT INTO THE…

Damage
Destroyed
Injuries
Fatal
Report
SEA84FA178

From NTSB records; matched by serial number.Read NTSB report (search CAROL for SEA84FA178)

ADs published since 1998 that may apply (0)

These match the airframe or engine model. Whether each one applies, and whether it's been complied with, depends on serial numbers, equipment and logbook entries. Applicability must be confirmed by a mechanic against the aircraft's records.

No ADs published since 1998 matched this airframe or engine model.

AI-extracted — verify against original. Matched from each AD's applicability section; ADs replaced by a later AD are left out.

Service Difficulty Reports (0)

No Service Difficulty Reports found for this airframe since 1995.

Sources

  • FAA Aircraft RegistryRegistration, owner city and state, airframe, engineupdated Oct 20, 2026
  • NTSB accident and incident databaseAccidents and incidents since 1982updated Oct 15, 2026
  • FAA Airworthiness Directives (Federal Register)ADs published since 1998updated Oct 20, 2026
  • FAA Service Difficulty ReportsReports since 1995updated Oct 16, 2026

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