Amateur-built VELOCITY accident near Goodyear, Arizona, June 15, 1996
On June 15, 1996 at about 3:23 pm local time, a amateur-built VELOCITY, registered N444BG, was destroyed in an accident near Goodyear, Arizona (Goodyear Municipal 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
an engine compartment fire, which originated in flight from loose fuel and/or oil lines near the engine's firewall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1996 · about 3:23 pm local time
- Place
- Goodyear, Arizona · Goodyear Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VELOCITY
- Registration
- N444BG · registry record · serial DM053
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While cruising at 4,000 feet during a personal flight, the pilot reported to the air traffic controller that he was about 10 miles from the airport, was experiencing an engine problem, and was declaring an emergency. About 1 minute later, he stated that he had a 'fire on board.' The pilot made a forced landing about 2 miles from the airport. During the landing, the airplane collided with a pole, then was destroyed by fire. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed that the fire had been concentrated in the firewall area. Fuel and oil lines were found loose, and the fire left traces of both fuel and oil involvement. No specific point of origin was determined. Investigation also revealed that the engine had been modified from its original factory design.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 40 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GYR at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 8,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:36 pm from GYR, 2 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.