Ag Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Yuma, Arizona 85364
Saturday, March 2, 1985 10:20 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE PRACTICING AEROBATICS FOR AN AIRSHOW, THE PLT ENTERED A SPIN. DURING THE SPIN MANEUVER, THE ENG SPUTTERED, LOST POWER & THE PROP STOPPED TURNING. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRIC STARTER, SO THE PLT TRIED TO WINDMILL THE PROP BY DIVING, BUT WAS UNABLE. THE ACFT WAS NEAR AN 1800 FT AG STRIP, SO THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING THERE. HOWEVER, ON FINAL APCH, THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK A DIRT EMBANKMENT OF AN IRRIGATION DITCH, JUST SHORT OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE ACFT THEN NOSED OVER & CAME TO REST IN THE DITCH. DURING AN EXAM, A LACK OF COMPRESSION WAS FOUND IN THE #1 & #3 CYLINDERS; HOWEVER, NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS VERIFIED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/2/1985
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1020
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City YUMA
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85364
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport AG STRIP
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 140
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
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) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 459
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 2 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1540
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 27747
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N913S
NTSB Number LAX85LA162
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 SEVDY PITTS SPECIAL
Aircraft Model 104
Aircraft Series Identifier 104
Aircraft Serial Number 105
Certified Max Gross Weight 900
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 15 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 890
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT FINER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2514 S. EDGEWOOD
Aircraft Owner City YUMA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85364
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code YUM
Departure City YUMA
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
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 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --