Amateur-built S-1C accident near Saint Johns, Arizona, July 17, 1993
On July 17, 1993 at about 5:24 pm local time, a amateur-built S-1C, registered N128DS, was destroyed in an accident near Saint Johns, Arizona (St Johns Industr'L Airprk airport). 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's inadequate compensation for the existing cross wind conditions and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1993 · about 5:24 pm local time
- Place
- Saint Johns, Arizona · St Johns Industr'L Airprk · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S-1C
- Registration
- N128DS · registry record · serial 672-H
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Ground witnesses observed the aircraft on short final for runway 32 with a 50 degree left cross wind at 12 knots with gusts to 15 knots. The witnesses stated that on very short final, control of the aircraft seemed to be lost and it collided with a berm and a fence off the right side of the runway. The pilot said that when he arrived over the airport the UNICOM was reporting winds from 280 at 10 to 15 knots. The pilot stated that just after touchdown he 'received a hard gust from the left.' He reported that the aircraft lifted and started to move to the right, then it hit a runway light. The pilot said he applied power in an attempt to go around; however, the landing gear hit an embankment off the right side of the runway. The aircraft became airborne, hopped over a fence, rolled to the right and cart wheeled to an inverted resting 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 552 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 486 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 86 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 1993; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SOW Show Low AZ at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,223 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:05 pm from SJN
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.