Amateur-built DSA-1 accident near Kingman, Arizona, August 4, 1991
On August 4, 1991 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DSA-1, registered N4077K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kingman, Arizona. 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 PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER ALTITUDE TO ENSURE TERRAIN CLEARANCE WHILE CONDUCTING LOW LEVEL AEROBATIC MANEUVERS, RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1991 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kingman, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DSA-1
- Registration
- N4077K · no longer on the register · serial J5
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS PERFORMING A SERIES OF LOW LEVEL AEROBATIC MANEUVERS. DURING ONE SERIES HE SAID THE AIRCRAFT 'GOT AWAY FROM HIM' AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. IN HIS WRITTEN REPORT, THE PILOT ATTRIBUTED THE ACCIDENT TO WIND SHEAR. THE PILOT REPORTED NO ENGINE OR AIRCRAFT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 2,579 hours in all; 25 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.