Davis LG2H accident near Salome, Arizona, June 23, 2003
On June 23, 2003 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Davis LG2H, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N128RD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salome, Arizona (Western Sky 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
The pilot's excessive use of the controls during an aborted takeoff, and his failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in a stall/mush. Factors in the accident include the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane and an excessively rich mixture setting due to the lack of a mixture control on this engine installation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2003 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Salome, Arizona · Western Sky Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Davis LG2H, amateur-built
- Registration
- N128RD · no longer on the register · serial 11200H
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Upon the pilot taking off in an unfamiliar airplane, the engine stuttered. The pilot aborted the takeoff. According to the owner of the airplane who witnessed the accident, it sounded as though the throttle had been "chopped." The airplane suddenly pitched up, climbed 30 feet, and then dropped 30 feet, breaking off the nose landing gear assembly. After the first impact, the engine regained power. The plane flew erratically for 1/2 the runway length approximately 30 feet above the runway. No stutter was heard after the airplane became airborne again. Instead, it sounded as though the engine was being throttled up and down. The airplane looked to be out of control and struck the ground, coming to rest in a ditch. Post accident inspection revealed the two spark plugs from the rear cylinders were "dark and sooty." Flight control continuity was established.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 2, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 242.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 2002; 17.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honda D2 OA 5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0AZ2 Salome AZ at 7:10 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.62 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KBLH, 55 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.