Amateur-built SA6B accident near Tucson, Arizona, August 23, 1990
On August 23, 1990 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built SA6B, registered N4203, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona (Lacholla Airpark airport). It was a personal flight 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1990 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Lacholla Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA6B · all SA6Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4203 · no longer on the register · serial P2159
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE UNREGISTERED, NON-CERTIFICATED HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW, INVERTED ATTITUDE WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TO BE LOW AND SLOW, AND STALL WHILE TURNING FROM BASE TO FINAL APPROACH. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE, STRUCTURE, AND FLIGHT CONTROLS FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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: 69 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 74 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,500 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.