Phoenix Deer Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Phoenix, Arizona 85027
Friday, October 9, 2009 13:54 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the initial climb after takeoff, witnesses observed the airplane make a right turn and then enter into a nose down spin before impacting a scrap metal yard where it was subsequently consumed by a postimpact fire. Witnesses further reported that the engine sounded smooth and was producing power akin to takeoff power. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors responded to the site and were able to identify all of the hardware for the flight controls. A postaccident engine inspection revealed no mechanical difficulties that would have precluded normal operation. The owner of the airplane reported that this was the pilot's first flight in the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during initial climb, which resulted in a stall/spin and impact with the ground.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/9/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1354
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Phoenix
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85027
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 334117N
Event Location Longitude 1120457W
Event Location Airport Phoenix Deer Valley Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1478
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID DVT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1478
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 28611
NTSB Notification Source FAA AWP Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2011 4:54PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3944U
NTSB Number WPR10LA010
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cruz
Aircraft Model SE5A Replica
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 074140
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Gary H. Steinke
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Irvine
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92620
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Gary H. Steinke
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Irvine
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 92620
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code DVT
Departure City Phoenix
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1354
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code DVT
Destination City Phoenix
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2011 4:54PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25L
Runway Length 8197
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --