Amateur-built SH-3R accident near Mesa, Arizona, April 5, 1991
On April 5, 1991 at about 3:57 pm local time, a amateur-built SH-3R, registered N93RB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SUPPLY BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO SELECT A FUEL TANK CONTAINING SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1991 · about 3:57 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SH-3R
- Registration
- N93RB · registry record · serial 3148
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS IN THE FINAL APPROACH PHASE OF LANDING WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN AN ADJACENT FIELD BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE LANDING SPOT DUE TO HIS LOW ALTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES AND POWER LINES AND THEN STRUCK A WALL IN A RESIDENTIAL YARD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY FAA PERSONNEL REVEALED THAT THE MAIN FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. SOME FUEL REMAINED IN AN AUXILIARY TANK. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE MAIN TANK POSITION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,014 as pilot in command; 2,015 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 46 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Mesa AZ at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:58 pm from FFZ, 1 miles away
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.