Ak-Chin Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Maricopa, Arizona 85239
Sunday, February 23, 2014 18:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On February 23, 2014, about 1800 Mountain Standard Time, a Sabrena Dragonfly (SPELLING), N7745C, impacted terrain about one mile from Ak-Chin Regional Airport (A39), Maricopa, Arizona. The pilot (sole occupant) was fatally injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The aircraft was registered to, and operated by, the pilot under provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and it is unknown if a flight plan was filed. The flight originated from A39 at an unknown time. Witnesses reported that while the airplane was on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern they saw the airplane pitch up abruptly. The nose of the airplane temporarily leveled off before it pitched up a second time. Witnesses reported that the airplane appeared to stall before it descended into the terrain below. The airplane has been recovered to a secure location for further examination.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/23/2014
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Maricopa
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85239
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 325916N
Event Location Longitude 1115505W
Event Location Airport Ak-Chin Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID A39
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1306
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1755 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID CGZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1464
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
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) 29.93
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) --
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 1 2014 11:43AM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7745C
NTSB Number WPR14LA119
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SABRENA
Aircraft Model DRAGONFLY
Aircraft Series Identifier NO SERIES
Aircraft Serial Number 072403
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? --
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KNIGHT MARK J
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City TEMPE
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 852832129
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name KNIGHT MARK J
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City TEMPE
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 852832129
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code A39
Departure City Maricopa
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code A39
Destination City Maricopa
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 1 2014 11:33AM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --