Avi Suquilla Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Parker, Arizona 85344
Monday, April 4, 1994 14:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

About 15 minutes after departure on a cross-country flight, the pilot reported on the UNICOM that he was inbound to the airport for landing. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flying over the departure end of the runway, at approximately 400 feet agl and observed a momentary pitch oscillation as the aircraft entered a steeply banked left turn. The aircraft continued in the turn, descending gradually toward the ground until impact. The witnesses described the engine sounds as 'unusually loud.' The carburetor throttle body was found in a nearly full-open position while the cockpit twist grip throttle control linkage was found separated at a ball swivel fitting. The throttle grip was found separated from the twist grip throttle. The throttle linkage parts were reportedly not aircraft quality materials. The pilot had recorded in a notebook previous trim problems in which he was required to hold constant back pressure to maintain level flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft while maneuvering in the traffic pattern following a failure of the throttle control. A factor in the accident was a throttle linkage separation after takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/4/1994
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City PARKER
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85344
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport AVI SUQUILLA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID P20
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 449
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2051 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID BLH
Elevation of weather observation facility 397
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 46
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 247
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 4 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1510
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:02AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N96WM
NTSB Number LAX94LA177
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
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GARDNER
Aircraft Model E-RACER MARK II
Aircraft Series Identifier E-RACER MA
Aircraft Serial Number ER-06
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 22 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 31
Airframe Hours 31
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WESLEY C. GARDNER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1310 GARDEN STREET
Aircraft Owner City REDLANDS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92373
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WESLEY C. GARDNER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1310 GARDEN STREET
Operator City REDLANDS
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92373
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code L12
Destination City REDLANDS
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 19L
Runway Length 4782
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --