Amateur-built GLASAIR accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, July 22, 1984
On July 22, 1984 at about 7:29 pm local time, a amateur-built GLASAIR, registered N499SH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona (Scottsdale 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 7:29 pm local time
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · Scottsdale Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASAIR
- Registration
- N499SH · no longer on the register · serial 201
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF, THE TOWER WAS REPORTING A WIND FROM 260 DEG AT 11 KTS. THE TAKEOFF WAS INITIATED & THE ACFT ACCELERATED NORMALLY. WHEN THE TAILWHEEL WAS RAISED, THE PLANE BEGAN DRIFTING LEFT. THE PLT SAID SHE APPLIED RUDDER UNTIL SHE HAD FULL RIGHT RUDDER DEFLECTION, BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED OFF THE RWY & HEADED FOR A TAXIWAY. THE ACFT WAS LIFTED OFF THE GROUND TWICE WITH INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO REMAIN AIRBORNE. FINALLY, IT STALLED AT ABOUT 20 FT AGL & CONTACTED THE GROUND RIGHT WING 1ST. ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER, THE WIND SOCK AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY WAS LIMP.
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: 556 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 452 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 33 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 17, 1984; 33 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 7:29 pm
- Destination: FFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 8,251 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:29 pm from SDL
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.