Amateur-built SE-5A accident near Camp Verde, Arizona, October 20, 1990
On October 20, 1990 at about 8:20 pm local time, a amateur-built SE-5A, registered N4565, was substantially damaged in an accident near Camp Verde, Arizona (Montezuma Hights Airpark airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT'S INADVERTENT SHUT-OFF OF THE FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1990 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Camp Verde, Arizona · Montezuma Hights Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SE-5A
- Registration
- N4565 · registry record · serial B4567
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TAXI LIGHT AND PROCEEDED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO ROUGH TERRAIN. THEE PILOT STATED HE INADVERTENTLY TURNED OFF THE FUEL TANK SHUT-OFF VALVE WITH HIS KNEE DURING FLIGHT. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES FOUND DURING THE ENGINE EXAMINATION.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,668 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 3,592 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 22, 1990; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 7°F (-14°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.