Amateur-built COUGAR 1 accident near Williams, Arizona, July 22, 1984
On July 22, 1984 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built COUGAR 1, registered N3456, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williams, Arizona (Williams Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 22, 1984 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Williams, Arizona · Williams Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built COUGAR 1
- Registration
- N3456 · no longer on the register · serial HP-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND AT THE WILLIAMS MUNI ARPT FOR A REST STOP. HE NOTED THAT RWY 2/20 WAS CLOSED; HOWEVER, HE OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A NEW GRAVEL STRIP, ORIENTED NORTH/SOUTH & AN AIRPLANE ON THE ARPT. THE PLT ASSUMED THE ARPT WAS OPEN & PROCEEDED TO LAND ON THE GRAVEL STRIP. THE SURFACE OF THE GRAVEL STRIP WAS SOFT. JUST BEFORE THE ACFT STOPPED, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE PLANE NOSED OVER. RWY 2/20 WAS NOTAMED CLOSED UNTIL 9/1/84. DURING THIS TIME, CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW RWY (18/36) WAS UNDERWAY. IT WAS ON THIS RWY THAT THE PLT HAD LANDED.
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: 238 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 172 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,000 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 1, 1983; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: INW Winslow AZ at 3:30 pm
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,500 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from FLG, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.