Amateur-built HUMMING BIRD accident near Tucson, Arizona, September 8, 1985
On September 8, 1985 at about 4:08 pm local time, a amateur-built HUMMING BIRD, registered N14GJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona (Ryan Field). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
- September 8, 1985 · about 4:08 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Ryan Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HUMMING BIRD HUMMING BI
- Registration
- N14GJ · no longer on the register · serial 1-82
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT ACFT WAS DESIGNED BY THE PLT AND INCORPORATED A LIFTING BODY SYMETRICAL AIRFOIL SHAPED FUSELAGE. PITCH CONTROL WAS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH A NARROW CHORD CANARD. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT LIFT OFF BRIEFLY TO ABOUT 10 FT AGL DURING THE FOURTH HIGH SPEED TAXI RUN, THEN SETTLE BACK ONTO THE RWY FOR A SHORT TIME. THE ACFT LIFTED OFF AGAIN AND PITCHED 'ABRUPTLY UP', FLIPPED OVER ONTO ITS BACK AND SLIDE DOWN THE RWY BACKWARDS. THE ACFT RECORDS DISCLOSED THAT ABOUT ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR INCIDENT; HOWEVER, THE ACFT DID NOT PITCH UP PAST THE VERTICAL.
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: 350 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 240 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 1985; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Revmaster 2100D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.