Skull Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Skull Valley, Arizona 86338
Wednesday, September 21, 1994 9:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT MADE A LOW AND SLOW STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT IN THE AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE. GROUND WITNESSES SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE AND THE ENGINE WAS AT FULL POWER. THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY ABOUT 54 YARDS FROM THE THRESHOLD. THE LEFT WING TIP AND LEFT MAIN GEAR SIMULTANEOUSLY CONTACTED THE GROUND; THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS AT THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED ITS GROUND RUN, ON THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY, UNTIL IT STRUCK A MESQUITE BUSH AND NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING AIRPLANE OR ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATORS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PILOT'S TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS OR HIS RECENCY OF EXPERIENCE. ACCORDING TO THE DESIGNER, THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE ACCRUED 7.5 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's poorly planned approach by failing to maintain the proper airspeed and alignment. The pilot's total expereince, and lack of experience in the airplane make and model were factors in this accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/21/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City SKULL VALLEY
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86338
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SKULL VALLEY AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 50
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
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 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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1988
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 21 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1006
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:16PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N151JE
NTSB Number LAX94LA370
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 JAMES B. EDWARDS
Aircraft Model COZY
Aircraft Series Identifier COZY
Aircraft Serial Number 389
Certified Max Gross Weight 1700
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 15 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 8
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES B. EDWARDS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1110 GAMBEL OAK TRAIL
Aircraft Owner City PRESCOTT
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 86303
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code PRC
Departure City PRESCOTT
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 22
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --