Amateur-built 1 accident near Mojave, California, July 19, 1983
On July 19, 1983 at about 3:40 pm local time, a amateur-built 1, registered N69EZ, was destroyed in an accident near Mojave, California (Mojave airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1983 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Mojave, California · Mojave · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 1
- Registration
- N69EZ · no longer on the register · serial 41
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT PURCHASED THE ACFT A WEEK BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE PLT STATED TO RUTAN AIRCRAFT FACTORY PERSONNEL THAT HE HAD NEVER FLOWN THIS TYPE OF ACFT IN THE PAST & WAS AFRAID OF THE ACFT. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WITNESSES OBSERVED THE PLT TAXI THE ACFT AROUND THE ARPT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE TAKING OFF AT 0740. AT 0839 THE ACFT ENTERED THE DOWNWIND LEG FOR RWY 22. AS THE ACFT APPROACHED RWY 22 ON FINAL THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN, FOLLOWED BY A 180 DEG ROLL TO THE LEFT IN A DOWNWARD ATTITUDE. THE ACFT IMPACTED A CROSSING RWY IN AN INVERTED POSITION.
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: 124 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 76 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 81 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 5, 1983; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,110 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 9,600 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.