Amateur-built COZY accident near Skull Valley, Arizona, September 21, 1994
On September 21, 1994 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built COZY, registered N151JE, was destroyed in an accident near Skull Valley, Arizona (Skull Valley 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's poorly planned approach by failing to maintain the proper airspeed and alignment. The pilot's total expereince, and lack of experience in the airplane make and model were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1994 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Skull Valley, Arizona · Skull Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built COZY
- Registration
- N151JE · registry record · serial 389
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A LOW AND SLOW STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT IN THE AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE. GROUND WITNESSES SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE AND THE ENGINE WAS AT FULL POWER. THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY ABOUT 54 YARDS FROM THE THRESHOLD. THE LEFT WING TIP AND LEFT MAIN GEAR SIMULTANEOUSLY CONTACTED THE GROUND; THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS AT THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED ITS GROUND RUN, ON THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY, UNTIL IT STRUCK A MESQUITE BUSH AND NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING AIRPLANE OR ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATORS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PILOT'S TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS OR HIS RECENCY OF EXPERIENCE. ACCORDING TO THE DESIGNER, THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE ACCRUED 7.5 HOURS BEFORE 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: 250 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1994; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PRC Prescott AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.