Davis YAK-3 UR-2000 accident near Parker, Arizona, January 10, 2003
On January 10, 2003, a Davis YAK-3 UR-2000, registered N498SD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Parker, Arizona (Avi Suquilla airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the propeller shaft extension mechanism resulting in a loss of power, and the pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 2003
- Place
- Parker, Arizona · Avi Suquilla · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Davis YAK-3 UR-2000
- Registration
- N498SD · registry record · serial 123012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with terrain during an off airport forced landing after the failure of the propeller pitch change control during initial climb after an aborted landing. The propeller blades remained in the high-pitch, low-rpm setting, and did not provide sufficient power to sustain flight. The pilot landed the airplane about 1.5 miles from the airport in open desert terrain. The pilot felt that the propeller shaft extension mechanism failed prior to his landing approach at the airport, resulting in a loss of propeller control.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 560 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 480 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 11, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 2, 2002; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R2000-7M2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA
- Destination: P20 Parker AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from EED, 41 miles away
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.