Amateur-built DSA-1M accident near St. Johns, Arizona, September 19, 1986
On September 19, 1986 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built DSA-1M, registered N99QB, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Johns, Arizona (St. Johns Industr. airport). It was a ferry flight 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
- September 19, 1986 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- St. Johns, Arizona · St. Johns Industr. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DSA-1M
- Registration
- N99QB · no longer on the register · serial F-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT PERSONS OVER 5 FT 9 IN TALL EXPERIENCE LIMITED RIGHT AILERON CONTROL AUTHORITY DUE TO THE SMALL COCKPIT OF THE HOMEBUILT EXPERIMENTAL ACFT, WHICH IS USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR AIR RACING. THE PLT SAID THE RIGHT KNEE OF TALL PERSONS LIMITS THE CONTROL STICK MOVEMENT TO 'ABOUT 2/5THS OF THE AVAILABLE TRAVEL.' THE ACFT HAS NO ELEC SYSTEM & MUST BE FLOWN X-COUNTRY WITH ANOTHER ACFT FOR COM & NAV CAPABILITY. THE ACFT WAS BEING ESCORTED BY A HARVARD MK VII ACFT. THE PLT SAID HE DEPARTED IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE HARVARD & ENCOUNTERED 'THE WING VORTEX' FROM IT, WHICH ROLLED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT AT AN ALT OF 6 FT AGL. THE PILOT SAID THAT WITH THE LIMITED RIGHT AILERON AUTHORITY, HE COULD NOT ARREST THE ROLL RATE PRIOR TO REACHING THE INVERTED POSITION. THE PILOT SAID HE THEN LANDED THE AIRCRAFT 'STRAIGHT AHEAD AS GENTLY AS POSSIBLE.'
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,334 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 1,323 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 390 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1986
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJN St. John AZ at 6:00 pm
- Destination: DAL Dallas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 3,400 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; ovct at 4,000 ft
- 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.