Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, August 21, 1988
On August 21, 1988 at about 3:00 am local time, a Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R, registered N955W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona (Bullhead Laughlin airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person 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
- August 21, 1988 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Bullhead City, Arizona · Bullhead Laughlin
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R · all S.205/22Rs on the register
- Registration
- N955W · registry record · serial 4-155
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT HAD TO ABORT THE LANDING THE FIRST TIME DUE TO HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS AND TURBULENCE. THE PILOT RETURNED FOR LANDING AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON THE WET RUNWAY, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE DID NOT GAIN ENOUGH AIRSPEED PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH A VEHICLE.
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: 159 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,976 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDM San Diego CA at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,648 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 13 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.