Amateur-built 104 accident near Yuma, Arizona, March 2, 1985
On March 2, 1985 at about 5:20 pm local time, a amateur-built 104, registered N913S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yuma, Arizona (AG Strip airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- March 2, 1985 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Yuma, Arizona · AG Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 104
- Registration
- N913S · registry record · serial 105
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PRACTICING AEROBATICS FOR AN AIRSHOW, THE PLT ENTERED A SPIN. DURING THE SPIN MANEUVER, THE ENG SPUTTERED, LOST POWER & THE PROP STOPPED TURNING. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRIC STARTER, SO THE PLT TRIED TO WINDMILL THE PROP BY DIVING, BUT WAS UNABLE. THE ACFT WAS NEAR AN 1800 FT AG STRIP, SO THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING THERE. HOWEVER, ON FINAL APCH, THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK A DIRT EMBANKMENT OF AN IRRIGATION DITCH, JUST SHORT OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE ACFT THEN NOSED OVER & CAME TO REST IN THE DITCH. DURING AN EXAM, A LACK OF COMPRESSION WAS FOUND IN THE #1 & #3 CYLINDERS; HOWEVER, NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS VERIFIED.
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: commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,626 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,376 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 890 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 1985; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YUM Yuma AZ at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°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.