Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ash Fork, Arizona 86320
Monday, July 26, 1993 15:45 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A PERSONAL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE PILOT REPORTED EXPERIENCING SEVERE TURBULENCE AND STRONG CROSS WIND CONDITIONS THAT RESULTED IN AN ENGINE SURGING CONDITION IN THE PILOT'S HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE. THE PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A ROADWAY NEXT TO AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND IT DEPARTED THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A FENCE. THE AIRPLANE THEN NOSED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilots inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during a precautionary landing, that resulted in collision with a fence and nose over of the airplane. A cross wind condition was a factor in this accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/26/1993
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City ASH FORK
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86320
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 157
Weather Observation Facility ID PRC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5042
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 65
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1120
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 26 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1905
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N119FF
NTSB Number LAX93LA301
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name FERDON
Aircraft Model THORP S-18
Aircraft Series Identifier THORP S-18
Aircraft Serial Number 119
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 13 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 304
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FERSON, FRED D.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 27645 FIREBRAND DR.
Aircraft Owner City CASTAIC
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91384
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FERDON, FRED D.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 27645 FIREBRAND DR.
Operator City CASTAIC
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91384
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 WJF
Departure City LANCASTER
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1350
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FLG
Destination City FLAGSTAFF
Destination State AZ
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --