Amateur-built GC-1B accident near Chandler, Arizona, May 12, 1991
On May 12, 1991, a amateur-built GC-1B, registered N42WW, was destroyed in an accident near Chandler, Arizona (Chandler 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 PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED IN A FORCED LANDING RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL, STALL, AND SUBSEQUENT IN FLIGHT COLLIISON WITH TERRAIN. FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PROCEDURE WHICH RESTULED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON VFR APPROACH DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 1991
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Chandler · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GC-1B
- Registration
- N42WW · registry record · serial 3688
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS COMPLETING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE'S WINGS BEGIN TO OSCILLATE AND THEN THE AIRPLANE NOSED STRAIGHT DOWN INTO AN OPEN FIELD. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE-EXISTING AIRFRAME OR ENGINE MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. BOTH AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY, BUT THE MAIN FUEL TANK WAS NEARLY 1/4 FULL. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SELECTED TO THE MAIN TANK.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,377 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 2,277 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1991; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,970 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UDD Bermuda Dunes CA at 10:28 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.