Amateur-built SUN DEVIL accident near Junction City, Kansas, June 1, 2019
On June 1, 2019 at about 2:15 pm local time, a 1985 amateur-built SUN DEVIL, registered N1418, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Junction City, Kansas (Freeman Field). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot rated passenger's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the improperly maintained main landing gear brake pads.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2019 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Junction City, Kansas · Freeman Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SUN DEVIL, built 1985
- Registration
- N1418 · registry record · serial DSM II
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane, the pilot rated passenger was manipulating the controls. After the airplane touched down, the passenger applied braking and believed that the right main landing gear brake locked up. The airplane subsequently veered to the right, exited the runway, and impacted terrain. An examination of the main landing gear brake system revealed that the brake pads were extremely worn. The I-lift wing struts were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Damaged/degraded
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Not serviced/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Braking capability › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Last flight review: September 14, 2018
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,498 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 010° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from KFRI, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA19CA307.