Miller S-1 accident near Cottonwood, Arizona, August 4, 1997
On August 4, 1997 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Miller S-1, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N22RM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cottonwood, Arizona (Cottonwood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate strength and braking capability of the landing gear and wheel brakes, and the builder's attempt to adapt motorcycle parts to an aircraft application. A factor in this accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity with this experimental aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1997 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Cottonwood, Arizona · Cottonwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Miller S-1, amateur-built
- Registration
- N22RM · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed the morning of the accident to get the feel of the airplane. He was coming in for his fourth touchdown when he said he came in too fast and rolled out too far. He stated the left brake did not respond. A postaccident examination of the aircraft was conducted by an FAA airworthiness inspector. He reported that the aircraft design had several deficiencies. The rudder was very small and the 2-inch tail wheel horn was short. The wheels and brakes were from a Honda motorcycle, which was originally designed for a 200 pound motorcycle. This aircraft weighs approximately 1,200 pounds. The pilot had 2 hours of flight time in this airplane prior to the accident flight. There were no preimpact failures noted on the wheels and brakes.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,910 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 4,834 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7E7 Camp Verde AZ at 2:00 pm
- Destination: P52
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,250 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from FLG
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.