Cessna 120 accident near Goodyear, Arizona, May 11, 1994
On May 11, 1994 at about 11:09 pm local time, a Cessna 120, registered N89550, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goodyear, Arizona (Goodyear Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1994 · about 11:09 pm local time
- Place
- Goodyear, Arizona · Goodyear Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N89550 · registry record · serial 8590
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, EN ROUTE TO MESA, ARIZONA, DECIDED TO LAND AT GOODYEAR, ARIZONA, DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER AT HIS DESTINATION. SUSTAINED WINDS DURING HIS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 3 WERE REPORTED TO BE 050 DEGREES AT 20 TO 25 KNOTS. THE PILOT SAID HE MADE A WHEEL LANDING AND WAS DECELERATING WITH THE TAILWHEEL ON THE GROUND WHEN A 'STRONG WIND GUST SPUN THE AIRCRAFT AROUND.' THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A SMALL DITCH.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 545 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 465 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,525 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 19, 1994; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BLH Blythe CA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: FFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 8,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Observation at 11:10 pm from GYR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.