Mobile Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mobile, Arizona 85239
Wednesday, May 22, 2002 14:42 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the airplane's first flight after assembly, an eyewitness on the ground stated he observed it cross his field of vision, right to left, at a very low altitude and at very high rate of speed. The attitude of the airplane went progressively from 90 degrees of bank to wings level and nose down until it collided with the terrain in a flat attitude. He saw a perceptible nose rising, but it was too late to avoid impact with the desert floor. No discrepancies could be found with the airframe or engine, post crash.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to maintain altitude clearance with the terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/22/2002
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1442
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Mobile
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85239
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 330631N
Event Location Longitude 1121650W
Event Location Airport Mobile
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1AZO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1.5
Degrees magnetic from airport 225
Airport Elevation 1261
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1456 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 25
Weather Observation Facility ID PHX
Elevation of weather observation facility 1135
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 31
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.84
Density Altitude (feet) 3054
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 12997
NTSB Notification Source NTSB, SWRA
NTSB Notification Date May 22 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 18 2003 4:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Phoenix

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N866AF
NTSB Number MIA02FA098
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grob
Aircraft Model G120A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 85006
Certified Max Gross Weight 3175
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
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 Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection May 22 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0.5
Airframe Hours 6
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Airline Training Center Arizona, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address Phoenix-Goodyear Municipal Airport
Aircraft Owner City 1658 South Litchfield Road
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85338
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Flight Test
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GYR
Departure City Goodyear
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1404
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 6 2003 2:44PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --