Amateur-built MXL Sport II accident near Marana, Arizona, September 6, 2006
On September 6, 2006 at about 1:30 am local time, a amateur-built MXL Sport II, registered N503RX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marana, Arizona (Private Airstrip 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2006 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Marana, Arizona · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MXL Sport II
- Registration
- N503RX · no longer on the register · serial SportII-331
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
All engine power was lost during initial climb upon gaining about 70 feet above the ground. During the pilot's forced landing his experimental airplane collided with a tree. The pilot reported that there was no evidence of any mechanical malfunction prior to the loss of engine power. The reason for the power loss was not determined.
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: student
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 70 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UNK Marana CA at 1:30 am
- Destination: UNK Marana CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 530 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.